The message reads, in part:
“The Russian Federation attaches great significance to the development of international cooperation to counter the threat of dangerous infectious diseases. African states are our important partners in this sphere. Following the Second Russia-Africa Summit, we are implementing a large-scale programme to assist our African friends in combating epidemics, including those with pandemic potential. Over the past two years, more than 150 African specialists have been trained in accordance with this programme. We are conducting joint research projects to study dozens of dangerous infections, and six mobile laboratories have been delivered to African countries.
Doubtless, the organisation of exercises of sanitary-epidemiological services involving rapid response teams from Russia and 15 African states, as well as representatives of multiple international organisations, on the territory of Ethiopia elevates our collaboration to an entirely new level. This event presents a valuable opportunity for exchanging professional experience, mastering the joint operation of special-purpose equipment and improving rapid response methods for coping with outbreaks of dangerous infectious diseases.”