Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is set to supply Africa's top health body with its coronavirus pill.
The drug - Paxlovid - is intended for use soon after symptoms develop in people at high risk of severe disease.
Africa CDC director John Nkengasong says Paperwork for the deal between the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Pfizer is now in the hands of the African Union's legal office - after which a formal announcement will be made.
He urged health ministries to adopt robust measures spanning vaccines and testing plus the treatments by Pfizer as well as Merck, whose molnupiravir coronavirus pill he said the Africa CDC was also seeking.