‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’- (World is a family) has been India’s core thought since the inception of Vedas but it’s existence was enhanced globally when Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi utilized the teachings of the Vedas to create a new world view during the Covid-19 pandemic.
When the world was stupefied due to the Global Pandemic Covid-19 and the best of global health infrastructure failed, it was New India with the ‘mantra’ of ‘Sarve Santu Niramayaha’ (May All Be Healthy) that helped the struggling world to fight against Covid-19. India was the only country to deliver medicines like paracetamol & hydroxychloroquine to over 120 countries. A show of strength of India’s Pharmaceutical prowess, it supplied over 58.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to 71 countries in 55 days as a part of ‘Vaccine Maitri’ program. 80.75 lakh were sent as gift to the nations that need the most and 165.24 lakh doses have been delivered as part of Covax mechanism under the aegis of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation. India’s vaccine maitri program proved out to be the ‘Sanjeevani’ (Life Saving herb) for the world to fight against Covid-19.
When the second wave of Covid-19 striked India in March-April 2021, we witnessed unprecedented global efforts to help India during it’s fight against the virus. From United States to European Union, Australia to Russia & Thailand to Singapore, countries around the world came ahead to add strength to India’s fight against Corona virus.
The 27 member bloc activated its civil protection mechanism, which responds to emergencies in Europe and beyond, in response to request from India by the European Union. Germany helped by availing mobile oxygen production plant for three months as well as 8- million KN95 masks, 12 ventilators and also will airlift crucial medical equipments to India along with organising webinar on testing and RNA sequencing. France came up with the help of 8 oxygen generating plants that can meet needs of 250 bed hospital, 5 containers of liquid oxygen – enough for 200 patients for 5 days, 28 respirators, 200 syringe pumps and 5 liquid oxygen containers to come next week under Phase 2. Ireland gave 700 oxygen concentrators that reached on wednesday and will also provide one oxygen generator with 365 ventilators. Countries like belgium gave 9000 doses of remdesivir, Romania gave 80 O2 concentrators and 75 O2 cylinders, Mauritius gave 200 O2 concentrators, Luxembourg gave 58 ventilators, Portugal helped with 5503 vials of remdesivir and 20000 litres of oxygen per week while Sweden helped with 120 ventilators. Britain will be sending more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipments in nine consignments along with 120 non invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators with 495 oxygen concentrators. Countries like Saudi Arabia also helped by sending 80 MT of liquid oxygen, United Arab Emirates is in talks with the Indian government for airlifting high capacity oxygen tankers and Thailand with a consignment of empty containers for medical oxygen that already arrived.
United States extended its support to India by unveiling a proposed package of assistance that will include oxygen generation systems and components for oxygen supply chain such as transport and cylinders. The assistance could include oxygen generation systems for field hospitals that cater for 50 to 100 beds. It will also share its stock of 60 million doses of astrazeneca vaccines with the world, a part of which may come to India. It was United states which allowed the supply of raw materials for Covid vaccines to India after putting restriction on exports of medical equipments and materials. “Today, I spoke with PM Narendra Modi and pledged America’s full support to provide emergency assistance and resources. India was there for us, and we will be there for them”, conveyed US President Joe Biden after his telephonic conversation with PM Modi.
Apart from it, Russia also helped with 2 special aircraft with wide range of covid related assistance including oxygen generators, concentrators and drugs such as Favipiravir. Singapore extended its support by giving 8000 oxygen concentrators, 500 BiPAP machines, 250 oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies. Australia came up with the support of 500 ventilators, 1 million surgical masks, 500000 P2 and N95 masks, 100000 goggles, 100000 pairs of gloves, 20,000 face shields, up to 3,000 ventilators and will also deliver 100 oxygen concentrators by next week.
Along with the countries coming ahead to help India, there are some private sectors who also extended their help during this challenging times like Gilead, the maker of remdesivir, has offered to supply 1,00,00 vials of drug free of cost. Google has offered INR 135 crore in funding for GiveIndia and Unicef. US-India strategic partnership Forum is assisting with 12 containers to transport oxygen in India and will also be airlifting cylinders. It is also sourcing 100,000 portable oxygen concentrators. Procter and Gamble will contribute towards the vaccination of more than 500,000 Indians by pledging INR 50 crore. Countries like Canada & U.A.E also showed their support to India by lightning up their structures in tricolor.
It was New India under the leadership of PM Modi, that transformed the global trend by putting to use its principle thought of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbaka’ & ‘Sarve Santu Niramayaha’. India not only handled the situation for their own citizens with adequate supplies but also helped other countries in this era of global crisis due to Covid-19 which has taught the world a new lesson of humanity during this pandemic era. This has inspired over 20 countries and 4 global companies to extend their support to strengthen India’s fight against Covid19 instantly.
- – Rangam Trivedi, Vadodara
