Key facts
TB is curable
and preventable, yet:
- 2 billion people, or one-third of the world's population, are infected with TB
- 1.7 million people died from TB in 2007
- There were 9.2 million new TB cases worldwide in 2007
- 8,496 cases of TB were reported in England, Wales and N.Ireland in 2007
- 1 in 10 people infected with TB will become sick with active TB in their lifetime
- TB is a leading killer of people infected with HIV
- Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe are the two regions most off track to reach MDG targets for TB
source: WHO
Welcome
Welcome to the website of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis (APPG on Global TB) was established in 2006 in response to cross-party concern for the growing scale and impact of the TB epidemic and to reinforce the UK’s commitment to halting and reversing the incidence of TB worldwide.
The purpose of this website is to share information about the Group and its work and to help raise the profile of the global TB problem among decision-makers and the public.
APPG News
TB discussed in House of Lords 01/07/2009
Baroness Masham, an active member of the APPG yesterday asked an oral question in the House of Lords on the use of mobile x-ray units (MXU) for TB. Baroness Masham was among three parliamentarians who recently visited the MXU when it was screening hostels in Westminster. She was impressed with what she saw but was alarmed to hear that the recommendations of an independent evaluation of the MXU were not being taken up. The oral question sought to ascertain from the Department of Health what the future of the Unit is and if a second unit will be commissioned, as recommended by the evaluation. Baroness Thornton,speaking on behalf of the Government, indicated that the Department of Health would fund the Unit up until 2010 and then it was the responsibility of London PCTs to fund it. As yet there is no indication that London PCTs will provide funding so the future of the vital MXU is in doubt.
You can read the oral question and answers here
APPG releases first Annual Report 01/07/2009
Yesterday saw the release of the first ever Annual Report of the APPG on Global TB. The report looks at activities between AGMs - i.e. from June 2008 to June 2009. The report aims to highlight and consolidate the many varied activities that have occurred over the past year. It also evaluates these activities against the objectives of the APPG and examines the activities the APPG will be focusing on in the coming year.
The 2009 Annual Report can be found here
London MP learns about TB in his constituency 18/06/2009
Last week saw David Evennett, MP for Crayford and Bexleyheath visit his local TB Service in Greenwich to learn more about how the disease affects his local constituents. Mr Evennett met with respiratory physicians, TB nurses, health protection staff and school nurses. He was informed of the epidemiology of TB in the area and the services that are provided to prevent and control the disease. He was also informed of the change in BCG policy and how this affects Bexleyheath.
APPG Members see Mobile X-Ray Unit in action! 09/06/2009
APPG members Baroness Masham, Julie Morgan MP and Doug Naysmith MP last week visited the Mobile X-Ray Unit as it was screening for TB in Westminster. They met with staff of the MXU and residents of both the Salvation Army and St George's Hostels. They were also given a tour of St George's Hostel and learnt how health matters are promoted with residents. The visit was co-organised by the APPG and the Find and Treat TB Team.
Julie Morgan and Doug Naysmith MPs study a TB display at King George's Hostel encouraging residents to get tested
Kent MP visits local TB Service 09/06/2009
In May, Damien Green, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Immigration, visited the TB Service in his consitunecy - Ashford. The visit, organised by the APPG, aimed to allow Mr Green MP to learn more about how the disease affects his local community. He visited The William Harvey Hospital and met with respiratory consultants, TB nurses and microbiologists.
APPG hears about TB in Latin America 13/05/2009
The APPG yesterday heard about the progress being made against the TB epidemic in Latin America but also the barriers to success that still exist. The meeting, which was co-organised by the APPGs on TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS and Latin America, was focused on the progress towards achievement of MDG 6 in the region. Speakers included Dr Ernesto Jaramillo from the World Health Organisation who spoke about the issues of TB drug resistant strains, and co-infection with HIV. Parliamentarians, Ambassadors and NGO staff also heard from Matias Gomez of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and Anamaria Bejar of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.
APPG announces two upcoming meetings 07/04/09
The APPG will host two meetings in the coming weeks focused on TB vaccines and TB-HIV service integration.
The first meeting "Integrating TB and HIV care in Sub-Sahran Afirca: How it works in practice" will take place on Wednesday 29th April. Speakers include Malcom McNeil from the Department for International Development, Dr Kerry Bailey from COMDIS and Dr Zwame Shanaube from ZAMBART.
The second meeting "Beyond BCG: Towards an effective new vaccine for TB" will take place on Wednesday 20th May. Speakers include Dr Noel Snell-an eminent TB consultant and researcher, Dr Helen McShane from the Jenner Institute in Oxford and Peg Willingham from the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation.
World TB Day 24/03/09
Today, 24th March, marked World TB Day. It provides an opportunity to come together and highlight to the world the continuing global TB epidemic. The 2009 Global Control Report released today by the World Health Organisation is a worrying read. It suggests that the world is seeing double the numbers of HIV-TB co-infected patients as previously thought.
Within the UK it is also a day to raise awareness of how the disease affects our countries; data launched today by the Health Protection Agency indicates that the rate of TB increased by 2% in 2008.
Read the 2009 WHO TB control report
APPG on World TB Day 2009 24/03/09
The APPG on Global TB has used World TB Day to launch a number of activities aimed at increasing awareness of TB in Parliamentarians.
Along with the Call for Evidence (see below), APPG members tabled a number of TB related parliamentary questions in both the House of Lords and House of Commons.
Read Parliamentary Questions on TB
The APPG co-chairs also released an article in the Westminster in-house magazine, "House Mag", which provided an update on the TB situation and highlighted the upcoming Ministerial Forum on TB Drug resistance in Beijing.
Andrew George MP (co-chair of the APPG) and Annette Brooke MP (Treasurer of the APPG) were among members of the UK Coalition to Stop TB who today delivered an invitation to help Stop TB to Gordon Brown. The letter, delivered to 10 Downing Street, asks for Gordon Brown to step up his response to the Global TB-HIV epidemic and follow on from his action in 2006 of launching the Global Plan to Stop TB.
Members of the UK Coalition to Stop TB handing in the letter at 10 Downing Street
Andrew George MP commented "Gordon Brown launched the Global Plan to Stop TB in 2006 but still 1.6 million people are dying of this preventable disease yearly. With the worrying increase in HIV-TB co-infection rates released today, World TB Day, by the World Health Organisation it is vitally important that Gordon Brown does not let TB slip of the political agenda. The UK, along with other G8 countries, must fulfil their commitments to global health and TB".
Read the letter to Gordon Brown
APPG launches Call for Evidence 24/03/09
The APPG on Global TB today, World TB Day, launched a Call for Evidence into the UK's response to the global TB epidemic.
In March 2007, the APPG launched a report – “Scaling up the UK 's response to the global TB epidemic: an agenda for action”. This report aimed to analyse the UK 's involvement in global TB control and suggest recommendations that could be taken in order to strengthen and extend the UK Government's activities in this area.
Two years on, the APPG is planning to launch a follow-up report, highlighting what further action the UK has taken to address the global TB epidemic in the past two years and what further developments there have been in TB control internationally.
The APPG is inviting individuals and organisations working in the field of TB control and international development to submit evidence on their assessment of how the UK Government has responded to the global TB epidemic and thoughts on how the government can strengthen its support, if appropriate.
Read and respond to the APPG Call for Evidence
Read the APPG report "An Agenda for Action"
Work of APPG discussed at RCN TB Conference 20/03/09
The Coordinator of the APPG on Global TB was invited to speak at the recent Royal College of Nursing's Annual Conference on TB held in central London. During last years conference, Julie Morgan MP, co-chair of the APPG, spoke about the APPGs dedication to further increase awareness of the disease within Parliament. This year, conference delegates were provided with an update of the work of the APPG. In particular the current joint RCN-APPG survey was discussed. The survey looks to gain opinions from TB nursing staff on the current state of TB services in the UK and national TB policy.
The survey can be found here
APPG Co-chair visits local TB service 20/03/09
Julie Morgan, co-chair of the APPG on Global TB and MP for Cardiff North recently visited her local TB service in Llandough Hospital to learn more about how the disease affects her local constituency. Julie met with local TB staff including TB consultant Dr Ian Campbell and Lead TB nurse - Liz Weeks. Details of the current TB trends in Cardiff and the services offered by the TB service were discussed as were current barriers identified that prevent TB in Cardiff being eliminated for good. Julie found the visit very informative and thanks the staff for their time and kind hospitality during the visit. Follow up activities are currently being carried out.
APPG Co-chairs visit Malawi to learn about TB-HIV co-infection 20/03/09
Andrew George MP and Julie Morgan MP, co-chairs of the APPG on Global TB recently visited Malawi to learn more about how the devastating diseases of TB and HIV affect the lives of the countries poorest sections of society. The delegation (organised by UK advocacy organisation - RESULTS) visited TB clinics in the capital Lilongwe and in rural Mzimba District. The MPs met with health staff and patients undergoing treatment for TB and HIV. They also visited the project run by UK NGO - TB Alert which seeks to train community volunteers to support patients with TB and also actively educate their communities on the dangers of delaying seeking treatment for TB.
APPG discusses global TB surveillance 20/03/09
A recent briefing meeting held in the House of Commons by the APPG looked at the work of the Global Task Force on TB Impact Measurement. Parliamentarians and Health professionals heard from Dr Katherine Floyd from WHO about the current worldwide epidemiology of the TB epidemic. Dr Japp Broekmans, Chair of the Taskforce, discussed current work being undertaken to strengthen TB surveillance systems globally. Also speaking was Dr Ibrahim Abubakar from the UK's Health Protection Agency who discussed ways in which the UK can use its expert knowledge and structures to assist developing countries in maximising surveillance activities.
Read more about the work of the Task Force
APPG and RCN launch TB survey 20/03/09
On 1st January, the APPG and Royal College of Nursing TB Forum launched a joint survey aimed at TB nursing staff working in the UK. The survey aims to gain opinions from nursing staff on the response and thus priority given to TB both locally and nationally. The survey runs alongside a survey currently underway from the British Thoracic Society assessing the opinions of TB consultants within the UK.
The survey RCN/APPG can be found here
Upcoming meetings & events
TB in London: The Strategic Response to the epidemic in our Capital
Tuesday 7th July, 10am-midday, Committee Room 7, House of Commons, London
APPG Call for Evidence
On World TB Day 2009 the APPG on Global TB launched a Call for Evidence on the UK governments response to the global TB epidemic.
Read the APPG Call for Evidence
BBC documentary on the history of TB in Scotland
BBC Alba (Trusadh part four) have produced an interesting documentary which will be availalbe on iPlayer for a week. You can watch the documentary here