More than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment will be sent to
India to support the country in its fight against Covid-19, the
UK Government has announced.
The assistance package, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth &
Development Office, includes ventilators and oxygen concentrators
from surplus stocks. It will be used by the Government of India
to provide vital medical treatment to those suffering from
Covid-19 in India.
The Department of Health and Social Care have worked closely with
the NHS, as well as suppliers and manufacturers in the UK to
identify reserve life-saving equipment that can be sent to India.
India has this week reported its highest numbers of new daily
cases and deaths since the pandemic began and is facing severe
shortages of oxygen.
Following discussions with the Government of India, the first
shipment of equipment will leave the UK today, arriving in New
Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Further shipments
are due to follow later this week.
In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495
oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual
ventilators, will be sent to the country this week. This
equipment will be crucial in helping to save the lives of the
most vulnerable in India. The oxygen concentrators, for example,
can extract oxygen from the air in the atmosphere so that it can
be provided to patients, taking the strain off hospital oxygen
systems and allowing oxygen to be provided in situations where
hospital oxygen supplies have run out.
The UK is working closely with the Government of India to
identify further assistance it can provide in the coming days.
Prime Minister said:
“We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner
during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against
COVID-19.
“Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen
concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to
India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from
this terrible virus.
“We will continue to work closely with the Indian government
during this difficult time and I’m determined to make sure that
the UK does everything it can to support the international
community in the global fight against pandemic.”
Foreign Secretary said:
“We are supporting our Indian friends with vital medical
equipment at a difficult time for them in this pandemic.
“We have all got to work together to tackle Covid-19. India
is a very important partner to us, so we’re providing oxygen
concentrators and ventilators to help save the lives of the most
vulnerable. We will be following up on this first delivery with
further support, based on our ongoing discussions with the Indian
Government.”
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“The heart-breaking scenes in India show once again how awful
this terrible disease is. We are determined to support the people
of India through this very difficult time, and I am hugely
grateful to those who have worked hard to make this initial
delivery happen.
“This first delivery of life saving equipment will provide
much needed assistance and we stand ready to do more. The global
pandemic has challenged health systems all across the world and
the best way to overcome adversity is to unite and defeat this
dreadful disease together.”
This is the just the latest example of UK-India collaboration
throughout this pandemic, to the benefit of both countries and
the world.
