UK's International Development Secretary, Annie-Marie Trevelyan, says the support should help train African health experts to tackle the pandemic in all the 55 member states of the union, including Malawi.

She added that the new funding to Africa will help protect people from the pandemic as everyone now faces a peace time challenge.

“As the UK faces its biggest peacetime challenge in tackling Coronavirus, it's never more important to work with our partners in Africa to fight disease,” Trevelyan said.

Chairperson of African Union, who is also president of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa said the UK has become the biggest national donor in Africa with funding to help African leaders and medics slow further spread of Corona virus.

The UK support to Africa comes after the UK has already pledged 900 million United States dollars to the international fight against the pandemic.

Head of DFID in Malawi, David Beer, says the additional UK support will help  technical experts in Africa slow spread of the virus and save lives world-wide.

“…it is crucially not only important that  we support countries bilaterally,  but also that we invest resources into an African-led response across the continent, supporting African countries to fight the Coronavirus together,” Beer said.

The new announcement brings the total UK aid contribution to fighting Coronavirus to 764 million pounds which is approximately MK680bn.

The money is meant to help find vaccines, provide vital humanitarian relief,  feeding the world poorest people and strengthening global healthcare systems, among others.