Statement from Mike Podmore, CEO, STOPAIDS, in response to the Shadow Chancellor’s plans to cut the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) should the Conservative Party win the next election. Sir Mel Stride announced the plans in his speech at this week’s Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.
Mike Podmore, CEO, STOPAIDS, said: “The devastating cut to international development spending proposed by the Conservatives would fundamentally undermine UK and global security as well as the UK’s standing and soft power around the world. It would lead to millions of unnecessary deaths, many of them caused by the world’s most life-threatening diseases.
“UK and global security has always been a combination of diplomacy, defence and development. At a time of great insecurity globally, working together to prevent conflict, address underlying challenges, and protect our shared interests has never been more urgent.
“Official Development Assistance (ODA) is critical to keeping communities everywhere safe. The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that infectious diseases do not respect borders. Reducing ODA makes us all more unsafe.
“ODA is indispensable in preventing and treating infectious diseases by strengthening resilient health systems, tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and supporting preparedness for future pandemics. As we saw with COVID-19, infectious diseases not only cause tragic deaths and suffering, but can have a serious impact on economies, threatening development and stability.
“Ending epidemic diseases such as polio, HIV, TB, and malaria delivers substantial economic benefits. Building robust systems for health fuels economic development, creating conditions for greater investment in health, and driving universal health coverage.
“The phrase ‘none of us are safe until we are all safe’ encapsulates our interconnectedness and mutual responsibility to take collective action. Investing in ODA is one essential component in creating global security – to act otherwise is a complete abdication of our moral duty to take action to prevent death and disease.”