World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “supporting vaccine equity”.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter, “Thanks India & Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting Vaccine Equity. Your commitment to COVAX and sharing COVID-19 vaccine doses is helping 60+ countries start vaccinating their health workers and other priority groups. I hope other countries will follow your example.”
The WHO chief said that steps like lockdown can lead to dire consequences for the poor and vulnerable section of the society.
“Countries are asking people to stay home and shutting down population movement to limit COVID-19 transmission. These steps can have unintended consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable,” Mr. Ghebreyesus said.
India’s vaccine distribution drive is expected to reach over 60 nations. Not just neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and others, the Indian government has also sent vaccines to countries in the far west including West Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
As part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to help small countries in overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic challenges, the country has been supplying vaccines to other nations free of cost under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.
Surjitt Sahani
