New Delhi, 02 June (H.S.):

India on Tuesday dispatched a second consignment of humanitarian medical assistance weighing 43 tonnes to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to support efforts to combat Ebola and related infections, following a request from the African Union Commission.

The assistance package includes protective equipment, diagnostic and monitoring devices, sample transportation kits, infection prevention supplies, medicines, and nutritional supplements. The consignment will be handed over to Africa CDC upon its arrival in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.

The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the shipment was dispatched on Tuesday and is intended to strengthen public health preparedness and enhance Ebola response capabilities across member states of the African Union. The second consignment contains a wide range of essential equipment and medical supplies for healthcare workers and institutions, which will be used for the detection, monitoring, prevention, and management of Ebola infections.

According to the ministry, India had earlier sent the first batch of medical assistance to Africa CDC on May 24. That consignment, which arrived in Kampala, contained approximately 2.5 tonnes of urgently required medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE), medical monitoring devices, and essential medicines.

The ministry noted that the medical assistance delivered in both phases will be utilized through Africa CDC to strengthen public health systems in Ebola-affected regions and improve emergency response mechanisms across the continent.

India's diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Kampala, Uganda, are working closely with the African Union Commission and Africa CDC to facilitate the delivery and distribution of the assistance. The missions are also coordinating logistical and operational arrangements to ensure the effective deployment of the medical supplies.

The initiative reflects India's continued commitment to global health cooperation and its support for African nations in strengthening their capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar