The European Union has announced an €11.5 million support package for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to strengthen efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the continent.
The funding comes at a critical time as health authorities grapple with more than 500 confirmed cases and 101 deaths linked to the virus. Response efforts have been complicated by insecurity and ongoing conflict in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, limiting access to affected communities and disrupting disease surveillance and treatment operations.
The support forms part of the broader African Union–European Union health partnership under the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which seeks to strengthen public health institutions, enhance health security, and expand digital health solutions for pandemic preparedness and primary healthcare systems across Africa.
Of the total package, €6.5 million has been allocated to strengthen the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative, aimed at improving disease surveillance through enhanced diagnostic capabilities, genomic sequencing, frontline response mechanisms, and healthcare worker training. A further €5 million will be directed toward testing equipment, including rapid diagnostic devices and laboratory testing kits, to improve early detection and help contain the spread of the virus.
European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, underscored the importance of international cooperation in responding to health emergencies.
“Strong partnerships save lives. This €11.5 million package will help Africa CDC strengthen our response to the Ebola outbreak by equipping and training healthcare workers, strengthening surveillance systems, and improving detection and response capacities,” she said.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to ensuring the resources deliver tangible results and strengthen protection for frontline health personnel.
“We want to assure you that we’ll use this money to make impact. We’ll use this support to ensure humanitarian corridors are considered in our response. We do not want to see health workers dying because they lack the necessary support and protection,” he stated.
The latest intervention builds on years of growing cooperation between the African Union and the European Union in public health. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, both blocs have intensified collaboration to strengthen Africa’s disease surveillance systems, expand local vaccine manufacturing capacity, and improve preparedness for future health emergencies.
Through initiatives such as the Global Gateway Strategy and the Africa CDC Partnership Platform, the EU has supported investments in laboratory infrastructure, digital health technologies, workforce development, and regional disease monitoring networks. The partnership reflects a shared recognition that health security is a global challenge requiring coordinated action, stronger institutions, and resilient healthcare systems across the continent.
Health cooperation remains one of the pillars of the AU-EU strategic partnership, with both sides increasingly focusing on sustainable solutions that enhance Africa’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging public health threats while reducing reliance on external emergency interventions.
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