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| Packs of Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate medication |
By Himani Chandna, New Delhi INDIA
The Narendra Modi government has
shifted its focus to Africa, and is sending critical drugs and medical
devices to 13 African countries as a part of India’s humanitarian aid to fight
the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a
meeting between senior officials from the external affairs ministry and
department of pharmaceuticals and Invest India held last Friday, the government
decided to send some of the poorer African countries medical equipment.
An
extensive list of 17 products, including essential drugs, injections and
medical devices, was drawn up to send to each country. On it are 500 units of
thermometers, one lakh units each of chloroquine, paracetamol and ibuprofen,
and two lakh units of antibiotic azithromycin.
Further,
several other antibiotics, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-asthmatic and
cardiovascular drugs, injections are also being sent.
India,
which has been a major exporter of medicines even before the coronavirus
pandemic, is sending these drugs and medical devices on a humanitarian basis.
“Last
month, we have sent crores of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol tablets across
the globe as a symbol of India’s friendship. We are known as “pharmacy to the
world” and it is our duty. We will continue to send medical products across the
world while keeping the domestic status under check,” said a senior government
official who was part of the meeting.
A
consignment of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is going to Mauritius,
Seychelles, Madagascar, Zambia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Congo, Egypt
and Comoros.
Consignments
of paracetamol will be going to Zambia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali,
Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Chad, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone and
Zimbabwe.
According
to sources, some of these shipments have already been sent out. -
Africa
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