To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems in sub-Saharan Africa since November 2020.

COVID-19 is resulting in health systems disruptions and reduced demand for health and nutrition services globally, including in Africa. A recent analysis by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows that over 40% of those that required health services during the pandemic had either missed or delayed their care, due to fear of contracting COVID-19 or reduced availability of services. Almost half had trouble accessing medicines. The UK's diplomacy, programmes and funding are playing a vital role in mitigating these indirect impacts of the pandemic.

The UK has committed up to £1.3 billion of UK Aid for the international response to the pandemic. This funding supports the direct response to COVID-19 and tackles the broader health, humanitarian, and socio-economic impacts, including ensuring continuity of access to essential health services. The UK has stepped up funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO), contributing £340 million in core voluntary funding over the next four years. This funding is helping to strengthen health systems in vulnerable countries, together with our bilateral health programmes and funding to other partnerships such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and malaria, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.