A CREDITON youth activist was among 60 who headed to Parliament to urge the government to invest in the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Zoe Coldridge (22), went to London as part of a Day of Action, organised by anti-poverty organisation The ONE Campaign.

The day was to campaign for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which seeks to eradicate these three diseases around the world.

Zoe met with MPs to talk about Global Fund success stories, presenting its investment case, and explaining that if fully funded it will help save 20 million lives.

The UK co-founded the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which has saved more than 44 million lives, halving the death rate from the three diseases in the countries in which the Global Fund works.

In 2020, for the first time, programmes decreased - due to the pandemic and disinvestment into Global Health.

One million fewer people with TB were treated, HIV testing dropped by 22 per cent, and malaria deaths increased by 12.4 per cent in Global Fund eligible countries.

Zoe urged MPs to call on the government to make an ambitious pledge to the Global Fund to get the world back on track toward ending HIV, TB and malaria, and to build resilient health systems globally.

The Global Fund is having its seventh replenishment this year, asking governments to help reach its funding target of $18bn to help it continue its lifesaving work.

She also provided MPs with a booklet which included messages addressed to them from constituents expressing their wish for the UK to invest more in ending preventable disease through the Global Fund.

Zoe said: “The pandemic and its aftershocks have meant that for the first time in a generation we have seen the threat from AIDS, TB and malaria increase.

“Science has given us the tools to finally beat these diseases.

“We have the knowledge and skills to get these tools where they are needed. What is missing is the investment to finish the job.”

In response, MP for East Ham, Stephen Timms, said: “I am very pleased to meet the constituents representing The ONE Campaign and I will be pleased to write to the PM and Foreign Secretary concerning the Global Fund as they requested.”

ONE is an international movement working to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases by 2030, so that every person can live a life of dignity and opportunity.

It is non-partisan and puts pressure on governments to do more to fight extreme poverty and preventable diseases, especially in Africa.

ONE also supports citizens in demanding accountability from their governments. For more information, visit: www.one.org .