Imperial News

UK Members of Parliament voice support for NTD funding at House of Commons

by Mrs Alexandra Grainger

Following UK Parliamentary debate, 18 MPs unanimous in their support for funding programs to continue to reach the most marginalized communities.

On 27 October 2015, the UK Parliament’s House of Commons held a debate, “Work of the UK in tackling malaria and neglected tropical diseases.” Jeremy Lefroy, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Stafford in the West Midlands of England, led the debate. The participating 18 Members of Parliament were unanimous in their support for funding programs to continue to reach the most marginalised communities.

Mr. Lefroy said, “No one company, organization or government can do it alone. With the right commitment, coordination and collaboration, the public and private sectors will work together to enable the more than a billion people suffering from NTDs to lead healthier and more productive lives — helping the world's poorest build self-sufficiency.”

The debate highlighted the role the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) is playing in ensuring endemic countries meet the goals outlined in the World Health Organization's (WHO) roadmap to control and eliminate NTDs by 2020. 

Please click here to watch the debate

Please click here to read the transcript of the debate