The UK government is considering significant cuts to overseas aid, including funding for global health initiatives. These programs are vital for vaccinating children, training health workers, and monitoring diseases like HIV, TB, and emerging threats such as Ebola and new viral outbreaks.
Reducing this aid compromises our collective safety. When health systems abroad are under-resourced, diseases can spread unchecked, increasing the likelihood of global outbreaks that can reach the UK.
Currently, less than 1p of every £1 in the UK budget is allocated to aid. Despite this small investment, the impact is substantial in preventing disease spread and ensuring global health security.
We must urge our leaders to maintain or increase funding for these critical programs. By doing so, we protect not only vulnerable populations abroad but also our communities at home.