India Provides Medical Aid to Africa CDC in Response to Ebola Outbreak

India has delivered an initial shipment of medical supplies to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to help manage the Ebola epidemic in parts of the continent. This announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs, following WHO's recent declaration of a public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

During a press briefing, the ministry's spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed India's commitment to providing further assistance. The supplies were dispatched through India's High Commissioner in Uganda, indicating a collaborative effort with the Africa CDC to address public health challenges. Jaiswal emphasized India's ongoing readiness to support these initiatives.

Africa CDC, operational since 2016 as part of the African Union, aims to enhance the public health capabilities of its member states, focusing on disease detection, prevention, and response. The center assists member states in addressing gaps within health infrastructure, workforce development, and disease monitoring.

Additionally, the ministry addressed questions regarding the postponement of the fourth India Africa Forum Summit, initially scheduled for May in Delhi. Potential future dates for the summit remain under discussion. Meanwhile, reports from the Congolese government indicate over 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 deaths following the outbreak declaration on May 15.

(With inputs from agencies.)