India, which was sending Corona vaccine to many countries through ‘Vaccine Friendship’ till a few months ago, is facing the second wave of Corona today. Many countries of the world have come forward to help In the midst of the fast-growing Corona infection in India and spreading from the virus increasing deaths every day.
There are about one and a quarter to 32 lakh known cases of corona infection at present in India and more than two lakh people have died. Nearly three and a half thousand people have died due to this infection in the last 24 hours.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s Foreign Secretary has stated that more than 40 countries have come forward to provide assistance to India.
Continuing on the same Shringla also mentioned that a large consignment of oxygen-producing equipment, including two thousand oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders, is coming from the USA, which has the capacity to produce 27 million liters of oxygen, and also India is receiving aid from countries such as the Gulf countries, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, New Zealand, and geographically distant Guyana, besides the countries of Europe have promised to send help.
The extend of help is not restricted by developing countries only but neighbouring countries like Mauritius, Bangladesh, and Bhutan have come forward to provide whatever help they could.
Approximately, 550 oxygen generating plants from different sources from all over the world are coming to India out of which some of the plants are being bought while some are being given by corporates, governments, private individuals, and community organizations said Foreign Secretary.
Continuing on the same, He also stated that India is getting four thousand oxygen concentrators, 10,000 oxygen cylinders, and 17 oxygen cryogenic tankers, some of which have already been brought by the Indian Air Force from countries such as Thailand and Singapore.
According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Gilead Sciences, an American pharmaceutical company, has offered four and a half million doses of Remedesivir medicine to India as there is a lot of demand for the medicine in India at the moment and also feeling of shortage is being felt. In addition to the USA, Russia, UAE, and some other countries have offered three lakh doses of the drug Favipiravir whereas Germany and Switzerland are sending tocilizumab medicine to India.
What is coming and from where?
America
• Initial delivery of 1100 oxygen cylinders is coming and can be refilled repeatedly at local supply centers. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also locally purchased oxygen cylinders which are being sent to India.
• 1700 oxygen concentrators that provide oxygen for treatment from the atmosphere.
• Oxygen generation units
• One and a half million N-95 masks
• It has been decided to send raw material to India for making the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• Rapid diagnostic test (RDT): One million rapid diagnostic testing kits are being sent to India. These tests give reliable results in less than 15 minutes.
• In the first installment of 20 thousand dosages of antiviral drug remediesvir are being sent.
Britain
• Initially, nine airline container loads of supplies are being sent, including a total of 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators, and 20 manual ventilators.
• In the coming days, three units of oxygen will be sent from Northern Ireland to India. These oxygen units are capable of producing 500 liters of oxygen per minute and are sufficient to use 50 people at a time.
Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister has stated that they are going side by side with India as a friend and partner. Important medical equipment including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators are now being sent from the UK to India causing this dreadful virus, to save people’s lives.
France
France, in a Facebook post, has extended a helping hand towards India. French President Emmanuel Macron said that France will send medical equipment, ventilators, oxygen, and eight oxygen generators to India.
He said that every generator can make a hospital self-sufficient for 10 years by producing oxygen from the atmosphere air and also the departments of his ministries are working hard and French companies are also mobilizing to provide help.
Continuing on the same, Macron also said, “Nobody is untouched by the epidemic we are going through. We know that India is going through a difficult phase. France and India are always united.”
Russia
Nikolay Kudashev, Russian Ambassador to India, two immediate flights from Russia have brought a medical cargo of 20 tons of weight to India.
This item includes an oxygen concentrator, ventilation equipment, bedside monitor, coronavirus, and other medicines, and other necessary medical items.
Australia
Australia is sending 509 ventilators, one million surgical masks, five lakh P-2 and N-95 masks, one lakh surgical gowns, one lakh goggles, one lakh pairs of gloves, and 20 thousand face shields to India. Other than this Australia will also collect 100 oxygen concentrators and send them to India.
Is the Help extended in response to help in return?
According to The Ministry of External Affairs, many of these countries have offered assistance on their own, due to the goodwill that India has created at the world level while many other countries have been sending help on their behalf in view of the assistance received from India during the first wave of Covid-19 crisis.
Foreign Secretary Shringla has also shared this point of view and stated he thinks there is a certain appreciation for our own efforts in this regard. And if many countries are coming forward so spontaneously today to support our efforts, so it is also part of our own international cooperation and global goodwill. Today India is in a good position and this is a big message that more than 40 countries are helping India.
