INDIA SENDS DRUGS TO 13 NATIONS AS IT SHIFTS COVID-19 AID FOCUS TO AFRICA

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