CANBERRA, March 24 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has committed funding to efforts aiming to end tuberculosis.

Penny Wong, the minister for foreign affairs, and Pat Conroy, the minister for international development and the Pacific, on Sunday announced 17 million Australian dollars (11 million U.S. dollars) in funding for the Global Alliance for Tuberculosis -- also known as the TB Alliance.

The funding will support the TB Alliance's efforts to develop and trial a new generation of treatments for tuberculosis.

The announcement was made to coincide with World Tuberculosis Day.

Wong said in a joint statement with Conroy that it reaffirms Australia's steadfast commitment to ending tuberculosis.

"Improving the health and well-being of communities in Southeast Asia and the Pacific is central to supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous region," she said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with tuberculosis globally in 2022, 1.3 million of whom died.

In addition to developing new treatments, Wong and Conroy said the TB Alliance will help governments including those of the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea roll them out.

Healthy Region program, which helps nations in Asia and the Pacific build resilient health systems. Enditem

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