PM Modi to address COVID-19 workshop for 9 neighbouring countries, Pakistan to participate

As India leads  fight against COVID-19 with Centre and State Governments working in close cooperation to keep virus surge under control, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday is scheduled to address a workshop on "COVID-19 Manment : Experience, Good Practices and Way Forward". As India hosts workshop, what comes as a surprise is nine neighbouring countries including Pakistan is said to participate in workshop. countries to participate in workshop include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.

hostile neighbour had opted for Serum Institute Manufactured Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines via Covax route and t under a direct request to India, as or neighbouring nations having friendly ties sought vaccines directly from India.

India's Vaccine Maitri

India has supplied Covid-19 vaccines to over 20 countries under its initiative 'Vaccine Maitri' as a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge to assist or countries to combat and overcome challenges of pandemic. India provided over 229 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to various countries out of which 64 lakh doses have been supplied as grant assistance and 165 lakh on a commercial basis, External Affairs Ministry said on February 12.

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"As of date, we have supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses to global community. Of se, 64.7 lakh doses have been supplied as a grant while 165 lakh doses have been supplied on a commercial basis," said MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

Srivastava informed consignments of Coronavirus vaccine doses were supplied as gifts to Bangladesh (20 lakh), Myanmar (17 lakh), Nepal (10 lakh), Bhutan (1.5 lakh), Maldives (1 lakh), Mauritius (1 lakh), Seychelles (50,000), Sri Lanka (5 lakh), Bahrain (1 lakh), Oman (1 lakh), Afghanistan (5 Lakhs), Barbados (1 Lakh) and Dominica (70,000), while adding that countries which received vaccines on a commercial basis are Brazil (20 lakh), Morocco (60 lakh), Bangladesh (50 lakh), Myanmar (20 lakh), Egypt (50,000), Algeria (50,000), South Africa (10 lakh), Kuwait (2 lakh) and UAE (2 lakh).

Moreover, India has undertaken mass vaccination drives on a mission mode with 87,40,595 doses being administered till Tuesday, February 16, according to Health Ministry.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, "Rajasthan, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura & Bihar, Chhattisgarh, MP, Uttarakhand, Lakshwadeep, Tripura administered first doses of vaccine to more than 70% of registered healthcare workers. Meanwhile, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Assam, UP, Telangana, Tripura, Gujarat and Goa have administered second dose to more than 60% of eligible healthcare workers."

Centre aims to complete vaccination drive of frontline workers by March 6. Union Joint Health Secretary Mandeep Bhandari on February 12, said at least one round of vaccination must be scheduled by March 1. Stating those who have t been vaccinated for any reason must be vaccinated by March 6.

(With ANI inputs)

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