India has stepped up its support for Africa’s fight against Ebola by dispatching a 43-tonne consignment of medical supplies to assist containment efforts and strengthen public health preparedness across the continent, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed on Tuesday.According to the officials, the assistance was being provided to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in response to a request from the African Union Commission.The second and larger tranche of aid, comprising 43 tonnes of medical supplies, is scheduled to reach Kampala, Uganda, on June 2 and will be formally handed over to Africa CDC.The consignment includes protective gear, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, sample transport kits, infection prevention supplies, medicines and nutritional supplements.The latest shipment follows an initial emergency consignment of about 2.5 tonnes that was dispatched to Kampala on May 24. The first tranche included protective equipment, medical monitoring devices, essential medicines and supplements aimed at addressing immediate requirements on the ground.As per MEA, the assistance package has been tailored to meet Africa CDC’s needs in containing Ebola outbreaks in parts of the continent while also enhancing regional response capabilities against public health emergencies.”India’s support reflects its enduring commitment to partnership with African countries, including in supporting them to respond to public health situations on the continent,” the official said.Indian missions in Addis Ababa and Kampala are closely coordinating with the African Union Commission and Africa CDC to facilitate the assistance and support ongoing Ebola response efforts, he added.The move underscores India’s growing development partnership with African nations and its emphasis on health cooperation as part of broader South-South collaboration initiatives.