Airport staff worked through the night to load the
life-saving kit, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth
& Development Office (FCDO), aboard the massive
Antonov 124 aircraft.
Each of the three oxygen generation units – the size of
40ft freight containers - produces 500 litres of oxygen
per minute, enough for 50 people to use at a time. They
are expected to reach India on Sunday morning, where
the Indian Red Cross will help transfer them to
hospitals.
This support, previously
announced, is in addition to 200 ventilators and
495 oxygen concentrators, which the UK sent to India in
late April.
It comes following discussions with India and a pledge
from Prime Minister for
the UK to do all it can to help. The latest assistance
package has been sourced by the Department of Health
and Social Care (DHSC) and is fully funded by the FCDO.
Foreign Secretary said:
The UK is sending surplus oxygen generators from
Northern Ireland to India. This life-saving equipment
will support the country’s hospitals as they care for
vulnerable Covid patients.
The UK and India are working together to tackle this
pandemic. No-one is safe until we are all safe.
Northern Ireland Health Minister, , was
at Belfast International Airport to welcome the arrival
of the plane last night and to see the three surplus
oxygen generators supplied by the Department of Health
(Northern Ireland) loaded onto the giant cargo plane.
The offering by Northern Ireland’s health service is in
addition to 1,000 ventilators offered by DHSC.
He said:
The scenes coming out of India are a vivid reminder
of the devastation this virus can cause and it shows
no sign of abating.
It is our moral duty to help and support where we
can. Oxygen supply is under severe stress in India’s
health system and the three oxygen generation units
that we are sending today are each capable of
producing 500 litres of oxygen per minute.
I sincerely hope this equipment goes some way to
easing the pressure and pain the country is currently
experiencing.
Health and Social Care Secretary, said:
The situation in India is heart-breaking and we stand
side by side with our friends as they face this
immense challenge.
As we battle this global pandemic together, the vital
equipment we are providing, including ventilators and
oxygen generators, will help save lives and support
India’s healthcare system.
As one United Kingdom we will continue to do all we
can to help the Indian health authorities turn the
tide on this dreadful virus.
