World rallies in solidarity with Covid-stricken India, send oxygen & equipment

Moved by the plight of millions of Indians suffering due to a runaway coronavirus pandemic raging across the country, the world has rallied in solidarity with the Covid-struck India and pledged help in form of oxygen supplies, oxygen generating machines and medical equipment.
A high level Inter-Ministerial group has established procedure for immediate clearance of these materials. The material would be dispatched promptly to the recipient institutions in various parts of the country in coordination with various government agencies, said the government.

The US, after initial prevarication, has now come in the forefront to help the Covid-beleaguered India. US President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 26, and committed that the United States and India will work closely together in the fight against COVID-19. President Biden pledged America’s steadfast support for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. In response, the United States is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics.
President Biden acknowledged India’s assistance to US in the early days of pandemic and expressed his determination to help India in its time of need. He said “Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need.”

Support pledged by India’s partners

UK
UK made announcement that 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to India this week. Out of these 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen concentrators already arrived on 27 April, 2021.

France
France would send relief material in two phases.
Phase I: (Arriving this week)
• Eight large Oxygen Generating Plants that can be installed quickly.
• Liquid Oxygen
• Respiratory material – 28 respirators and their consumables and 200 electric syringe pushers.
Phase II: (Arriving next week)
• 5 liquid oxygen containers

Ireland
Ireland is to send 700 Oxygen concentrators this week.

Germany

• Mobile oxygen production plant (will be made available for 3 months)
• 120 ventilators.
• More than 80 million KN95 masks.
• Webinar on testing, RNA sequencing of Coronavirus

Australia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on 27 April, 2021 that Australia will send 500 ventilators, 1 million surgical masks, 500,000 P2 and N95 masks, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and 20,000 face shields.

COVID-19 medical supplies secured through private and other channels – As on 27 April 2021

1. Singapore: 500 BiPAPs, 250 oxygen concentrators, 4 Cryogenic Oxygen Containers & other medical supplies
2. Saudi Arabia: 80 MT of liquid oxygen (en route via sea)
3. Hong Kong: 800 Oxygen Concentrators
4. Thailand: 4 Cryogenic Oxygen Tanks
5. UAE: 6 Cryogenic Oxygen Containers
6. Germany: AFMS (Armed Forces Medical Services) is importing 23 mobile oxygen generation plants from Germany.

Proposed US Assistance to India

Proposed assistance from US Government to India
Oxygen generation and related supplies.
• Considering supply of different components such as oxygen transport, oxygen generation, oxygen cylinders, the oxygen supply chain.
• pursuing options to provide oxygen generation systems (more details when available).
• finalizing options for contracting oxygen, including cylinders.
• working on oxygen generation systems, including larger-scale as well as smaller-scale units. They are exploring the provision of field oxygen generation systems, which US has used in its own field hospitals to provide oxygen for 50 to 100 beds. (elements in exploration phase)
• exploring options to provide oxygen concentrations and ventilators. Already in technical discussions with India to ensure that the equipment supplied will connect to devices in India. Will provide training associated with all of these requests as needed.
• Preparing to help with transportation of these and other supplies to India.

Therapeutics, personal protective equipment, and tests
• Identified U.S. commercial suppliers of Remdesivir that are immediately available.
• Identified rapid diagnostic testing supplies and PPEs to be transferred to India immediately.
• Facilitating India’s own access to those supplies through U.S.-based sources.

Vaccine raw materials
• U.S.A will approve supply of filters required for manufacture of Covishield vaccines.

• US expects that there are approximately 10 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that could be released if and when FDA gives its concurrence in the coming weeks. An estimated additional 50 million doses that are in various stages of production, and these could be completed in stages across May and June. So, in sum, about 60 million doses of AstraZeneca that the U.S. could share with other countries as they become available over the next two months. As these doses become available, the plans will be finalized as to where they would be sent.

Technical expertise

o USAID will work with CDC to support and fast-track mobilization of emergency resources available to India through the Global Fund.
o Under the Quad Vaccine Initiative, U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is funding a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for BioE, the vaccine manufacturer in India, enabling BioE to ramp up to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.

US Private sector’s COVID 19 assistance to India

• Google – Rs 135 Crore in funding to GiveIndia and UNICEF for medical supplies, orgs supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information.
• Gilead offered to HLL supply of 100,000 vials of Remdesivir free of cost. First and second consignments are expected to be shipped later this week. They can supply an additional amount of 200,000 vials by 31 May 2021. Some institutions in India will be provided raw material by Gilead for local production.
• US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)– assistingwith 12 ISO containers to help transport oxygen in India. They will airlifting oxygen cylinders into India. Through donation ofmember companies, USISPF is sourcing 100,000 portable oxygen concentrators for use at home and hospitals to be shipped to India immediately. USISPF approached companies in US to supply and/or donate ICU beds, Covid-Test kits, N-95 Masks and other medical equipment. USISPF is working with member companies and NGO partners to set up vaccination and medical centers on corporate campuses.
• US-India Business Council (USIBC) members stepped forward to offer resources for USIBC initiatives.
• Procter & Gamble will contribute towards vaccination of over 5 lakh Indian Citizens by pledging Rs 50 crore in partnership with government and local authorities in India. For every P&G employee in India, the company is contributing towards the vaccination of 100 Indians. In addition, the company will cover vaccination cost of its over 5000 employee force in India, and their eligible immediate family members.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on April 24, urging the U.S. government to distribute its stockpiles of millions of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and provide other lifesaving medical resources to India and other countries.
• Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices.
• Apple announced that they will be donating to support and relief efforts on the ground.
• Amazon has joined hands with ACT Grants, Temasek Foundation, Pune Platform for COVID-19 Response (PPCR) and other partners to urgently airlift over 8000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore. Additionally, Amazon India is also procuring over 1500 oxygen concentrators and other critical medical equipment that will be donated to hospitals and medical facilities.
• Deloitte is working with the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, the U.S.-India Business Council, the Business Roundtable and India’s Ambassador to the US to mobilize resources. More than forty CEOs of multinational companies came together this weekend to focus on immediate needs like oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders and generators, home monitoring kits and critical medicines. 1,000 oxygen concentrators provided by Deloitte on 26 April 2021 and an additional 11,000 being sourced by the end of this week from my fellow CEO colleagues, will help the wider international effort to assist the people of India.

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