Dr Ahmed who is one of the initiators of the effort which includes over 1.5 million laboratory diagnostic test kits and over 100 tons of infection prevention and control commodities disclosed this today in a Tweet.

He posted: "This morning #Gabon, #Ghana, #Congo and the #DRC have received their #COVID19 prevention materials.The 2nd shipment of supplies from @JackMa & @AlibabaGroup containing 540k medical grade masks and 20k protective clothes is on its way to #Ethiopia. Dispatch to Africa will continue".

This relief initiative was launched by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr Abiy Ahmed, the Jack Ma Foundation, and Alibaba Foundation as part of actions towards implementation of the Africa joint continental strategy for COVID-19 led by the African Union through Africa CDC.

Ethiopian Airlines will help distribute the equipment, consisting 20,000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100,000 medical masks, and 1000 protective suits and face shields, to each of the African member states as part of their contribution to the fight against COVID-19 in Africa. 

Other African countries who have also received their share of the consignment which landed in Ethiopia on Sunday include; Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Somalia and Tanzania.

The shipment included over 1.5 million laboratory diagnostic test kits and over 100 tons of infection prevention and control commodities.