Ebola outbreak: India sends 43 tonnes of aid to Africa CDC in second relief tranche

NEW DELHI: India has dispatched a second tranche of emergency medical assistance weighing 43 tonnes to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to strengthen Ebola response efforts across the African Union, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said on Monday. The consignment, sent to Kampala, Uganda, follows a request from the African Union Commission and includes protective equipment, diagnostic and monitoring devices, medicines and other critical health supplies.The latest shipment is scheduled to reach Kampala on 2 June and will be formally handed over to the Africa CDC. According to the MEA, the consignment contains protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, sample transport kits, infection prevention supplies, medicines and nutritional supplements aimed at enhancing public health preparedness and bolstering Ebola response capabilities.External affairs minister S Jaishankar announced the dispatch on the social media platform X, sharing images of the consignment."India has dispatched the second tranche of medical assistance to the Africa CDC, comprising protective gear, diagnostic & monitoring equipment, medicines, and supplements. Confident that this 43 tons consignment will further strengthen public health preparedness and bolster Ebola response capacities across the African Union," he wrote.The assistance forms part of India's response to an appeal from the African Union Commission for support in tackling the Ebola outbreak and strengthening regional health systems.Before the latest shipment, India had already delivered an initial tranche of emergency aid to Uganda. The first consignment, weighing around 2.5 tonnes, was dispatched on May 24 and included protective gear, medical monitoring equipment, essential medicines and nutritional supplements.The MEA said the larger second tranche was mobilised after Africa CDC submitted a more detailed assessment of its operational requirements. The expanded aid package was assembled to address urgent needs related to disease surveillance, diagnosis, patient care and infection control.India's assistance comes as African health authorities continue efforts to contain Ebola outbreaks and improve preparedness against the spread of the disease across the continent. The support also reflects New Delhi's broader commitment to public health cooperation with African nations through bilateral and multilateral partnerships.