§ Mr. Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid her Department currently gives to help developing countries combat TB. [70169]
§ Clare ShortTB accounts for a significant proportion of the global burden of disease, particularly amongst the poorest. Its control is a crucial component of the Department for International Development's (DFID) health strategy. Over the last two years, DFID has programmed nearly £26 million directly for TB work. This has been primarily at country level to establish well functioning Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) programmes and to develop the contribution of282W the private and voluntary sectors to TB prevention and treatment. Priority countries include India (where a commitment of £20.5 million was made in 1998), Malawi, Russia, Nepal and Uganda. DFID has contributed £1 million to the World Health Organisation Global TB programme, and funded approximately £1.5 million of UK research.