In April, at Trump’s request, India allowed the export of 50 million hydroxychloroquine tablets to treat Covid-19 patients in the US, the country worst hit by the pandemic. With the thought of keeping the 2 countries close partnership, on May 16 Trump said that the US will be donating ventilators to India. In a tweet, Donald Trump said, “I am proud to announce that the United States will donate ventilators to our friends in India. We stand with India and @narendramodi during this pandemic. We’re also cooperating on vaccine development. Together we will beat the invisible enemy!”
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi responded on Twitter saying that, “Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. This pandemic is being fought collectively by all of us. In such times, it’s always important for nations to work together and do as much as possible to make our world healthier and free from COVID-19. More power to India – US friendship!”
The United States Agency for International Development will supply the ventilators to the Indian Red Cross, which will hand them over to the Indian Government for Covid-19 patients. The estimated cost of each of these ventilators will be around Rs. 10 lakhs. The US will be sending around 200 of these ventilators, the consignment will be received by May end or early June. The USAID said that the cost will be borne by them and dismissed all the reports saying that India will be paying for these ventilators.
The US also said that the ventilators are being sent not because India helped the US with the hydroxychloroquine tablets, its not quid pro quo, this is partnership.
The US on Wednesday handed over to India as part of Donald Trump’s offer to assistance to New Delhi in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The ventilators are manufactured by the US and are easy to deploy as they are compact and thus provide India with flexibility in treating patients affected by the virus. USAID is also working in close coordination with the Indian government to enhance the capacity of the health facilities using these ventilators by facilitating setups, orientations and clinical training for health care providers responsible for operating machines.
The 1st shipment was done on June 14. Since then ventilators have been deployed to support the care of covid-19 patients at the 8 regional All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). “The total donation of 200 ventilators builds on the long history of US-India collaboration in the health sector and the assistance that USAID has committed to India in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement made.
US Ambassador Kenneth Juster said, “”We are very pleased to hand over the final tranche of 100 ventilators to India, fulfilling President Trump’s commitment to provide these critically needed supplies to support India’s pandemic response.”
In addition of the ventilators, the USAID is funding a package of support that includes warranties and additional supplies required to operate these machines, such as tubes, filters and other necessary components.
NEWS REPORTED BY:
VRIDHI BHAGNARI.
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