'Most generous gift': Bhutan, Maldives express gratitude for COVID-19 vaccines sent by India

New Delhi, Jan 21: Days after India started vaccinating frontline workers against COVID-19, the country has already sent COVID-19 vaccines to its neighboring countries. On Wednesday, India sent the first batch of vaccines to Maldives and Bhutan as a grant, after which both the countries expressed their gratitude for the same.

 

 

As India on Wednesday shipped 1 lakh doses of Serum Institute made Covisheild vaccine to Male to boost their fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked PM Modi, the Indian government and the people of India for the “most generous gift”. Solih expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Indian government during his address to the nation.

 

 

 

Speaking in fluent Hindi, Solih said, "This vaccine is a generous donation from the Government of India to the people of the Maldives. On behalf of the people and the Government of the Maldives, and in my own name, I thank the friendly people and the Government of India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

 

Solih further added, “With the grace of Allah, we have secured enough vaccines to kickstart vaccination drive in the Maldives. Our goal is to provide free vaccines to all Maldivians and residents in the coming months.”

 

The shipment of Serum-developed vaccines was handed over to the Maldives Government by the Indian High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir in a special ceremony held at Male airport. Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Health Minister Ahmed Naseem were present on the occasion.

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Indian High Commissioner said, “With the help from India, Maldives will be able to commence its vaccination drive early in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.” He also added that the arrival of the vaccines in Male marked yet another milestone in the bilateral relations between the two countries.

 

Besides the Maldives, Bhutan also received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from today India today. An Indian Airforce AN-32 aircraft delivered the first consignment of 150,000 doses of Serum Institute’s Covishield vaccines to Bhutan on Wednesday. The vaccines were received by the Bhutanese PM Dr Lotay Tshering.

 

 

The Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj handed over the consignment of vaccines to Dr Tshering, Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, in presence of prime minister Lotay Tshering, foreign secretary Kinga Singye and a few other senior officials at the Paro International Airport.

 

India has assured that enough doses will be sent to Bhutan to cover its target population of around 533,500 with two doses of the vaccine. The remaining consignment will be shipped soon. Speaking of the other countries, Bangladesh and Nepal will get their first consignment today, while Myanmar and Seychelles will receive the vaccines on Friday.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs said, "The Government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian-manufactured vaccines from neighboring and key partner countries. In response to these requests, and in keeping with India's stated commitment to using its vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of the humanity fight the Covid pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles will begin from 20 January 2021".

 

"In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances," added the press release. India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves, and other medical supplies to a large number of countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

India said it is "mindful of domestic needs and all exports will keep internal demands in mind". "In an ongoing effort, India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines. This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI's Covax facility to developing countries," the MEA said.