The European Union (EU) on Thursday donated 900,000 COVID-19 test kits to the African Union (AU) in a major boost to the continent’s coronavirus (COVID-19) battle.
Josep Borrell, EU High Representative, who spoke at the COVID-19 test kits donation ceremony in Addis Ababa, said the test kits donation is an important expression of solidarity to Africa’s fight against the pandemic.
The 900,000 COVID-19 test kits are the third and last batch of the 1.4 million COVID-19 test kits donated by the EU’s largest economy, Germany.
The kits were delivered through an EU Humanitarian Air Bridge Flight as part of the EU’s global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s COVID-19 test kit donation is an important expression of the EU’s role in the fight against the pandemic,” said Borrell.
“The pandemic will affect the entire global community. It’s a common enemy; it’s an enemy we can all defeat together with a global approach and with cross-border coordination.
“Solidarity and cooperation are the keywords with this battle. They are at the heart of our response in this crisis. In this crisis, nobody will be safe until everyone is safe,” said Borrell.
The AU Deputy Chairperson, Thomas Quartey commended the EU for the donation of a large batch of COVID-19 test kits, essential to increase the still comparatively low continental testing capacity.
“Today we received a very large consignment of COVID-19 testing materials, Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs), medical equipment, logistics from the EU, mainly from the German contribution,” Quartey said.
“We’re grateful for the logistical ability of our capital country Ethiopia and also of the ability of Ethiopian Airlines to distribute evenly COVID-19 test kits evenly to other countries,” further said Quartey.
Africa’s largest airline company, Ethiopian Airlines has since early this year transported several rounds of large COVID-19 medical supplies from various entities including the Chinese government and private Chinese institutions.
Also from various European nations to scores of countries in the African countries.
Ethiopian Airlines has also transported COVID-19 medical supplies to Middle Eastern and South American destinations, playing an essential role in the global anti-COVID-19 efforts.
