Act now on TB

Tuberculosis is the world’s deadliest infectious disease killing more than 1.67 million people in 2016 and even in Scotland, TB among women is the highest in the UK.

There is the threat of drugresistance which makes TB an even greater global threat. Only an urgent global response will turn round the threat of drug-resistant TB taking hold and putting many millions of lives at risk worldwide.

Acting now could eliminate TB within a generation, and the way is with co-ordinated global action.

A high level meeting at the United Nations is being held on 26 September and it could change the future, agreeing mechanisms which would keep all countries to their promises on TB.

The higher the presence at that meeting, the greater the chances of keeping countries to their promises and the United Kingdom has a good record in contributing to the leadership in such areas of international development and bringing an end to devastating diseases like smallpox.

It therefore seems a great idea for Theresa May, our Prime Minister, to take the lead on this and attend the meeting in person. Compared to the endless round of Brexit talks, this would have a chance of doing something really positive and provide a legacy not only for Theresa

May but for the whole global community.

This is the reason why we in the Edinburgh Results Group are calling on Theresa May to represent the United Kingdom at the meeting in New York on 26 September.

CATHY CRAWFORD Edinburgh Results Group, Waverley Park Terrace, Edinburgh