NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22 – India has delivered the first 4.5 tonnes of Ebola medical supplies to Kenya, helping the country improve its readiness for possible Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks and other infectious diseases, according to CapitalFM.africa.
The first shipment was handed over at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by India’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Adarsh Swaika, to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
According to CapitalFM.africa, the delivery is the first phase of a larger medical assistance programme that will help Kenya improve its ability to prevent, detect and respond to Ebola outbreaks and future public health emergencies.
The shipment contains 279 packages of essential medical supplies. They include personal protective equipment (PPE), sample transportation kits, infrared thermometers, face shields, heavy-duty protective boots and other infection prevention materials needed by frontline health workers.
A second shipment is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
The High Commission of India said the supplies will strengthen the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) and other public health institutions by improving disease surveillance, laboratory sample handling, infection prevention and the protection of healthcare workers.
“The assistance is envisaged not merely as a short-term intervention, but to strengthen resilient and sustained public health preparedness,” the High Commission said, as quoted by CapitalFM.africa.
The latest donation follows India’s earlier delivery of more than 45 tonnes of medical supplies to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in May and June 2026 to support Ebola preparedness across the continent.
India said the support reflects its commitment to helping African countries build stronger healthcare systems that can respond quickly to infectious disease outbreaks.
Kenya and India have maintained close cooperation in the health sector for many years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, India supplied 1.12 million vaccine doses to Kenya through its Vaccine Maitri initiative. The country also provided medicines and other emergency medical supplies.
India has also supported Kenya’s healthcare system by donating a Bhabhatron radiotherapy machine to Kenyatta National Hospital, a CT scanner to the Kenya Navy Hospital in Mombasa, and is facilitating the delivery of an MRI machine to the same facility.
The High Commission said that more than 10,000 Kenyans travel to India every year to receive medical treatment. It added that Indian pharmaceutical products account for more than half of Kenya’s medicine market, making India one of Kenya’s most important healthcare partners.
Officials said the latest medical donation highlights the long-standing partnership between Kenya and India in public health, medical training, pharmaceutical supply and healthcare capacity building.
