With acknowledgement of India's assistance, Afghanistan starts vaccination drive
24 Feb 2021 16:33:56
Kabul, Feb 24: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for supplying COVID 19 vaccines to Afghanistan, saying the solidarity that New Delhi has demonstrated is an indication of a deep historical relationship between the two countries. The country began its first COVID 19 vaccination drive on Feb 23, administering first doses to the security force members, health workers and journalists, in a campaign that is likely to face challenges from a sharp rise in violence.
The war struck country received 5,00,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII), that is producing the vaccine for mid- and low-income countries, earlier this month. In a ceremony at the presidential palace, the acting health minister Waheed Majroh said the vaccines are to be provided to 2,50,000 people, mainly from the security, health, education and media sectors.
The acting Health Minister Marjoh said on the occasion of the inauguration of the vaccination drive in the country, "Today is a fortunate day for Afghanistan as we launch the first vaccination drive, but it would be a challenge to roll the plan to the whole country." The Taliban insurgents fighting the Afghan govt too have announced their backing for the vaccination campaign.
Soon after Afghanistan Prez Ashraf Ghani thanked Indian Prime Minister for the assistance in case of vaccines, the Indian mission at United Nations in New York tweeted a video of Ghani addressing an event, with the caption, "Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani commenting on India's donation of the COVID 19 vaccines said, the solidarity that India has demonstrated is an indication of our deep historical relationship and the promise of the two democracies working in this region together."
Prez Ghani furhter adds, "India the world's largest democracy and the world's largest producer of the vaccine, not only provided the house of Parliament of Afghanistan with dams that are the pride of this country but also partnered with us in securing our lives and livelihood."