Colombo, February 25 (newsin.asia): COVAX began the global COVID vaccine delivery by supplying 600,000 doses of made in India Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine to Ghana on 24 February 2021. This was the initial tranche of deliveries which are being planned under COVAX facility to various low and middle income countries, the Indian High Commission said.
India has been at the forefront of the global fight against the pandemic and is being led by a collective approach in this battle. Addressing the UN General Assembly on 26 September 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “India’s vaccine production, delivery capacity will be used to help humanity in fighting COVID-19.” Guided by this philosophy, India – Pharmacy of the World- has provided millions of doses of vaccines to several countries spread across the globe with many including Sri Lanka being on grant basis. At a UNSC meeting on 17 February 2021, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s approach on vaccine assistance and spoke against ‘vaccine nationalism’ and called for internationalism.
India’s commitment to deploy its capabilities for the health and well-being of the entire humanity is not limited to vaccine supply alone. It provided critical medicines, ventilators and PPE kits to more than 150 countries with around 80 of them being on grant basis as well.
India and Sri Lanka have been cooperating closely during COVID-19 pandemic. India supplied 26 tonnes of essential medical supplies on grant basis to assist Sri Lanka during the period. In addition, India is the only country from which Sri Lanka has received COVID-19 vaccines till date. The second tranche of 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccines reached Colombo on 25 February 2021. It may be recalled that the initial consignment of 500,000 does was offered as a gift by India.
