India has donated essential medicines worth 50 million dollars to African countries as part of the country’s collaboration with Africa to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mr. Abhay Thakur, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja after he donated some items to the Federal Government. The Government of India had on Friday donated seven tonnes of a consignment of essential medicines, including hydroxychloroquine and medicine, including antibiotics to Nigeria. The seven tonnes of consignments (586 cartoons) were received by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on behalf of the Federal Government.
The envoy said it would be very difficult to put a cost on the items donated, noting: “I will say for the whole of Africa, our donation is more than 50 million dollars. “I am talking about the whole of Africa.” Thakur said India would be willing to collaborate with Nigeria on the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, as the country had made some progress in the development of the vaccine. He said “there are many centres in India where serious work and research is happening; there are institutions that are working across India to produce the vaccine. “One of the most promising ones is developed by one of the institutions and has already gone into the first phase of testing; we hope phase two will start soon. “We hope to hear encouraging news about the COVID-19 vaccine on the forthcoming India independence day, which is on Aug. 15.” The envoy said India would continue to support Nigeria in building the capacity of its human resources as it continued to offer e-ITEC training ( Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation). “We are offering short online webinars on COVID-19 management and research; there are about 10 programmes; we are working together and we will continue to do so. “So far, 14 Nigerian medical professionals have benefited from online courses on COVID-19 management strategies in Africa.
