Health and Finance Committee Chairs from 14 African countries gathered in Cape Town, South Africa, for the Anglophone Africa Health and Finance Chairs Meeting convened by the Global TB Caucus.
Bringing together parliamentarians, researchers and global health partners, the meeting focused on strengthening political leadership to accelerate progress towards ending tuberculosis (TB) across Africa.
Delegates explored the latest advances in TB diagnostics, artificial intelligence-supported screening technologies and the next generation of TB vaccines currently progressing through clinical trials. The programme included a visit to the UCT Lung Institute and the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), where participants engaged directly with scientists leading some of the world’s most promising TB research efforts.
Discussions focused on vaccine preparedness, sustainable financing, regulatory readiness, domestic investment and ensuring equitable access to future innovations. Participants also examined the critical role of political leadership in strengthening health systems and preparing countries for the introduction of new TB prevention tools.
The meeting brought together representatives from Botswana, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Featured organisations and partners included: • Global TB Caucus • World Health Organization (WHO) • South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) • UCT Lung Institute • South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI) • The Global Fund • Gavi • Gates Foundation • Roche • Pfizer • AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) • Elton John AIDS Foundation • Global Parliamentary Platform for HIV/AIDS
As Africa prepares for the next generation of TB tools, parliamentarians are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring countries are ready to deliver innovation, strengthen health systems and save lives. Learn more about the Global TB Caucus: https://www.globaltbcaucus.org
