Written question asked by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 June 2025. It was answered by Stephen Doughty (Labour) on Thursday, 5 June 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Viral Diseases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support diagnostic testing of fevers in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Answer: The UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is a long-term supporter of Product Development Partnerships to develop novel health technologies for diseases where commercial markets fail. This support has led to the development of diagnostics for sleeping sickness, malaria, tuberculosis and COVID-19. Additionally, the UK's current £1 billion pledge to the Global Fund supports testing, treatment, and prevention initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa and strengthens health systems, helping countries prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics. Programmes supported by the Global Fund performed 335 million malaria tests in 2023. Through our £1.65 billion investment in Gavi, the vaccine alliance from 2021-25, the UK is supporting the vaccination of 300 million children, and the procurement and distribution of yellow fever and cholera diagnostic tests. Finally, our £95 million Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa programme (TDDAP) is strengthening national public health surveillance and laboratory systems to better detect and respond to public health threats and outbreaks in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and DRC.

Secondary information