Global TB Summit on 28–30 November begins

Photo: The Hon Sydney Mushanga, MP, Deputy Minister of the Republic of Zambia, and Mr Virendra Sharma, MP, United Kingdom, are among the parliamentarians attending the Global TB Summit.

MPs from nearly 30 countries started arriving in Cape Town today for the Global TB Summit – a series of sessions aiming to identify priorities for addressing TB issues, share common goals and pursue the research of new diagnostics and vaccines needed to eliminate the disease.

The Summit agenda includes site visits to Pollsmoor Prison, Brooklyn Hospital and the MSF clinic which pioneers the decentralised diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant TB in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

South African Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, and British Member of Parliament, the Rt Hon Nick Herbert, will co-chair this pre-conference event.

Welcoming MPs at a small reception in Cape Town, Mr Herbert said, "I am delighted to welcome so many MPs from all over the world – some of whom have moved heaven and earth in order to join our gathering.  I look forward hugely to our meetings over the next two days.”