Egypt offers 25 tons of medicines to Sudan: Foreign Ministry

CAIRO - 7 May 2019: As part of Egypt's announced initiative to support Africa with medicines and treatment plans, Egypt has offered urgent medical assistance to Sudan to maintaining security and stability in the sisterly Arab country, according to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

A statement by the ministry said that the first shipment of the aid consists of 25 tons of medicines, adding that extending aid to the brothers in Sudan comes to consolidate the long-standing and sisterly relations between the two neighboring River Nile nations and reflects Egypt's keenness on serving the best interest of the Sudanese people.

Other Egyptian moves in this regard include announcing the establishment of a pharmaceutical plant affiliated to the Holding Company for Pharmaceuticals in Chad in January.

Minister of Health Hala Zayed unveiled an Egyptian initiative to treat African people from Hepatitis C, starting with the Nile Basin countries who have an estimated 3.7 million hepatitis C patients, representing 30 percent of the total number of infected people in Africa.

This initiative will help spread Egyptian medicine and open markets for it, Zayed said, adding that it offers an opportunity to export medicine to Africa and an opportunity to treat 1 million people infected with the blood-borne disease in the Nile Basin countries.

In April, The Health Ministry is establishing 13 centers to treat African people from Hepatitis C (HCV).

In January 2018, Egypt has been elected as chair of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a one-year term in 2019.

In April 2017, an Egyptian medical convoy including four doctors and a medical equipment engineer in ophthalmology was sent to Eritrea, and shipment included 750 cartons of food, three bales of medicine and medical supplies weighing nine tons were sent to Somalia.

Additional reporting by MENA