Xie Xiaoyan, the Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia, told journalists Sunday that China wanted to establish an African Center for Disease Control as soon as possible to help African countries fight runaway disease and epidemics such as Ebola.

The diplomat said China would be lending its support to help the African Union and African countries build a pan-African public health center. No details were discussed about the cost or a time frame, according to an editorial in the TheDailyVox.

Though the Chinese were among the first to offer assistance to fight Ebola, their commitment of $122-million has been dwarfed by the U.S., which has pledged almost $1-billion in the form of health centers and troops, TheDailyVox reports.

Ambassador Olawale I. Maoyegum, social affairs director for the African Union, said this about China’s role: “We got quite a good contribution from China in the fight against Ebola. The Chinese contribution is really significant. And we believe they will support us more.”

China says it will support the development of a center to tackle disease in Africa. Isn’t it time Africans stopped waiting for others?