Tackling HIV and AIDS 2025-02-25
2025-02-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest global health program, saving 25 million lives. It has been advised that freezing PEPFAR will result in fewer HIV tests daily and predict a significant rise in AIDS-related deaths without adequate funding.
Can the Minister ensure that the Foreign Office includes HIV in all international discussions, especially at the G7 in Canada this year? The Minister is aware that PEPFAR—the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief—is the largest and most successful global health programme and has saved 25 million lives. It has been advised that freezing PEPFAR will result in 228,000 fewer HIV tests being carried out daily. UNAIDS predicts that 6.3 million AIDS-related deaths will occur if PEPFAR lacks funding for the next five years.
Tests and treatment are critical. I am pleased that the Prime Minister recently announced that, together with South Africa, the UK will co-host the eighth replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund is the leading financier of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, and we will work with Canada to draw attention at the G7 to the importance of the Global Fund replenishment.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address whether the Foreign Office would include HIV in all international discussions specifically as requested by the MP.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
There is concern about the financing details for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. There are also rumours that official development assistance might be reduced from 0.5% to 0.2%, potentially due to an increase in defence spending.
What details can the Minister give us about the financing that will be given to the Global Fund? More importantly, there is a rumour that official development assistance is going to be cut from 0.5% to 0.2%, to cover an increase in defence spending. Can the Minister confirm whether that is the case?
The hon. Gentleman is right to raise the importance of funding for global health. Of course, this is not just important for those directly impacted; it is important for us here in our country, because we know that diseases do not respect borders. I set out a few moments ago the fact that the Prime Minister is committed to that Global Fund replenishment, and rightly so.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific details about financing for the Global Fund or confirm the rumours regarding cuts to official development assistance.
Response accuracy