The news of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is highly concerning. We're providing @WHO with £1m to help contain the outbreak. It is crucial for our shared security that there is a swift and effective response, enabled by full humanitarian access.

Diseases don’t stop at borders. As #WHA79 begins in Geneva, the UK is working with global partners to prepare for future pandemics, strengthen health security, and deliver better health outcomes at home. Stay tuned for more throughout this week. 🇬🇧🌐 #WorldHealthAssembly

Attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in conflict are at record levels. Doctors, patients, and hospitals must never be targets. Parties to conflict must comply with international humanitarian law, and permit independent and timely investigations when incidents occur.

Imperial College London has partnered with 🇮🇳’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms to launch the Indo‑UK Life Sciences Innovation Corridor. The Corridor will help our researchers, innovators and startups collaborate more effectively on shared life‑sciences challenges.

"We can shape a world where every human can live with dignity, safety, and choice" UK Youth Delegate Aneurin delivered our statement at the Commission on Population and Development, outlining our commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health rights for women and girls.

Persistent inequalities in access to healthcare mean that too many people are left behind. On #WorldHealthDay, we must renew our commitment to closing these gaps, ensuring everyone, regardless of background, gender, or circumstance, can benefit from quality care.

Africa CDC and UK Health Security Agency IHR SP teams have started a two-day co-creation and planning workshop in Addis Ababa to shape a shared vision for 2026–2029. Experts from Africa CDC, @UKHSA, and partners including Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) are working together to plan priority activities on emergency preparedness, workforce development, surveillance, laboratories, and risk communication. The goal is to strengthen collaboration across continental, regional, and country levels and improve the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) for better preparedness and response to public health emergencies.

Africa CDC, through its Division of Legal Affairs and Dispute Settlement and the Eastern Africa RCC, is convening a Regional Workshop on Legal Preparedness and Readiness for Public Health Emergencies, in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (@CEPIvaccines ). Experts from 13 Eastern African Member States and regional economic communities are participating in the workshop to assess legal and regulatory frameworks, identify priority gaps, and advance implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005, as amended). Legal preparedness is a core component of public health emergency readiness. The workshop aims to strengthen national capacities, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and support the translation of regional and global commitments into country-level action. #HealthSecurity

Today we're marking World TB Day 🌍💉 The UK 🇬🇧 has re-committed to fighting tuberculosis by pledging £850 million to the @GlobalFund's Eighth Replenishment. Find out more📄⬇️ theglobalfund.org/en/news/20… #WorldTBDay #EndTB | @FCDOGH | @FCDOHealthRes

NOW ONLINE: The 2026 AMR Benchmark #AMRB26 finds pockets of progress in how #pharma companies are tackling #AMR but #DrugResistance continues to outpace industry-wide efforts, underscoring the urgent need for more comprehensive action. Read the report 👉 accesstomedicinefoundation.o…

This International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, we strive for a world where all women and girls are safe from harm and free to enjoy their rights and achieve their potential. The UK continues to stand with survivors of all forms of violence, listening to their voices and stories. That’s why we support locally-led movements, including Sierra Leonean women’s rights organisations who are working to #EndFGM #ZeroToleranceDay #Unite2EndFGM

The @WHO is simply vital to our health security 🏥 All this week, decisions on anti microbial resistance, health emergencies and much more are being made at its Executive Board. Find out more 👇 who.int/about/governance/exe…

Up to 56 million women have female genital schistosomiasis - a disease few have heard of that can cause pain, infertility and increased risk of cancer. The UK is backing @COR_NTD research this #WorldNTDDay to help tackle FGS and improve women and girls’ lives around the world.

Thank you @DavidWhineray for your leadership and collaboration with @WHO and partners during your tenure as @FCDOGovUK Director of Global Health. Your contributions to protecting and promoting health for people worldwide have been invaluable, and you have helped consolidate even further WHO’s critical partnership with the United Kingdom to advance #HealthForAll. x.com/DavidWhineray/status/2…

🙏

This week I complete my posting as @FCDOGovUK Director, Global Health. Been a brilliant & busy 3 years - from Prime Minister hosting @GlobalFund summit; to Foreign Secretary attending @gavi summit & 🇺🇳UNGA AMR HLM; to 🇺🇳Pandemic Treaty negotiations; to working with @WorldBank, 🇺🇳@UN, @WHO & others; to the impact of @FCDOGovUK’s multibillion pound health programmes & investments globally Huge thanks to the absolutely brilliant 🇬🇧@FCDOGH team - and to colleagues in so many embassies (especially 🇺🇳@UKMissionGeneva, 🇺🇳@UKUN_NewYork, 🇺🇸@UKinUSA, 🇩🇪@UKinGermany, 🇫🇷@UKinFrance, 🇪🇹@UKinEthiopia, @UK_AfricanUnion & 🇿🇦@ukinsouthafrica) as well as in @DHSCgovuk & across Whitehall. Also a massive thank you to so many brilliant colleagues I’ve worked with in @WHO, @UNFPA, @UNICEF, @gavi, @GlobalFund, @WorldBank, @gatesfoundation & many other international bodies & NGOs (especially @JeremyFarrar, @SaniaNishtar, @PeterASands, @HelenClarkNZ, @StateDeptGHSD, @DrTedros, @CerrJ, @PriyaBasu2017, @Winnie_Byanyima & @unfpachief @dienekeita). Thank you to everyone! 🙏👋

Signing off for the break with a festive view of 10 Downing Street as seen from across the road in @FCDOGovUK Happy Christmas to everyone who celebrates! 🎄

And also great to meet again with @gavi CEO @SaniaNishtar in Geneva. Proud that 🇬🇧@FCDOGovUK is @gavi’s number one investor and supporter. Few better things you can do to save lives around the world than vaccinate babies and kids 💉 🌍

I’ve been in New York & Geneva in the last week for meetings with 🇺🇳 @UN colleagues in @UNFPA, @WHO, @UNAIDS, @UNUCPR & @UNDESA. Was also great to see the brilliant 🇬🇧 @UKUN_NewYork & @UKMissionGeneva teams. Nowhere is multilateralism more critical than global health 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇳

Good to be back in 🇨🇭Geneva - capital of multilateralism, 🇺🇳 United Nations & global health - for meetings with 🇺🇳 @WHO, @gavi, 🇺🇳 @UNITAID, 🇺🇳 @UNUCPR & other international bodies Looking forward to seeing @KumarIyerUK & the brilliant 🇬🇧@UKMissionGeneva team too! 🇬🇧🤝🇺🇳