MILAN, October 17 (RIA Novosti) - China has pledged an additional aid worth 100 million yuan ($16 million) to help West Africa fight the Ebola virus, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang announced.
"China, along with other Eurasian countries that have extended help for Africa, is willing to stand together with the governments and people in Ebola-hit areas to tackle the challenge," Li was quoted by Xinhua as saying Friday.
According to the agency, the announcement was made on the sidelines of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan on Thursday.
According to Li, the country's additional contributions will include 60 ambulances, 100 motorcycles, medical kits and protective devices. Moreover, Chinese medical experts will be sent to West Africa to train 10,000 health care workers there.
Since April, China has allocated 234 million yuan ($38 million) to help Africa fight the virus.
The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of those infected. Though there is no officially approved medication for the disease, several countries are currently working on developing Ebola vaccines.
According to the World Health Organization, almost 9,000 people are currently infected, with the disease having killed around 4,500 so far.
