The White House said New Delhi using its pharma to help global community

Recognising India as a ‘true friend’, the US has commended New Delhi for sharing Covid-19 vaccine doses across several countries in South Asia. The White House in a twitter post applauded India for its role in global health for using its pharma to help global community.

“We applaud India’s role in global health, sharing millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccine in South Asia. India’s free shipments of vaccines began with Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal and will extend to others. India is a true friend using its pharma to help the global community,” the official twitter handle of the South and Central Bureau of the US Department of State said.

Chairman of House, Foreign Affairs Committee of US Gregory Meeks joined the Department of State in praising India for its efforts. Meeks was quoted by the House Committee saying, “I commend India’s efforts to help its neighbours by providing them with free Covid-19 vaccines.”

Indian’s Ambassador to US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu thanked US State Department for recognizing India’s efforts to support the global community to combat the pandemic.

Quoting Prime Minister Modi, Sandhu said, “India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community.”

Prime Minister’ Modi’s remark followed the announcement that on 20 January, India will send its first shipment containing the vaccine to neighbouring countries.

India begun supplying indigenously made Covid-19 vaccines as a gift to neighbouring countries and since 20 January, New Delhi has already shipped vaccines under its grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

New Delhi has also undertaken commercial supplies of the doses to several countries including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, and Morocco, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Anurag Srivastava said.

He also added that supplies to partner countries will continue in a phased manner where under grant assistance India will send supplies to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.