INDIA on Wednesday extended assistance of US$ 1 million to Guyana to improve health infrastructure and capacities so as to enable locals receiving more COVID-19-related medical care and health services.
The Indian High Commission in Georgetown in a release said the Government of India also offered the same level of assistance, i.e. US$ 1 million, to each CARICOM country.

The assistance of US$ 1 million from India will be used for improving medical and health care in Guyana, for procurement of life-saving medical supplies and equipment.

Under this assistance, 29 ventilators, 4800 PPE-clothing coverall, 4,799 masks, 4,366 face shields, 70 examination gloves, and various other supplies will be procured.

Besides these, the Government of India has provided 30,000 hydroxychloroquine tablets to the Government of Guyana as a gesture of goodwill in support of its fight against COVID-19.

On Wednesday, India’s High Commissioner to Guyana Dr. K.J. Srinivasa handed over the medical supplies and medicine to Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, in the presence of PAHO/WHO Guyana Representative Dr. William Adu-Krow.

“The Government of Guyana’s proposal for assistance and collaboration for fighting the coronavirus pandemic was processed under India-UNDP Fund managed by UNOSSC and the guidelines of the Sustainable Development Goals. The implementation of this funding assistance for procurement of medical supplies and equipment was done by the UNDP, and Ministry of Public Health of Guyana, UNDP, PAHO, etc. partnered in it. The modalities for implementing the project were followed as per the guidelines of the India-UNDP Fund,” the release said.

It also noted that trials of COVID-19 vaccines are progressing well in India and currently there are several vaccines in different phases of trials.
Oxford University-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India is in the Phase-III trials.  India’s first indigenous vaccine against the novel coronavirus, Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology, Pune, is in the second phase of clinical trials.

Others such as ZyCOV-D developed by Zydus Cadilla in Ahmedabad, and Novavax’s protein subunit vaccine, are also undergoing trials in various stages. An approved vaccine is likely to hit the Indian market by the first quarter of 2021.

WELCOME STEP  
“India’s efforts and Prime Minister Modi’s initiative at containing the coronavirus pandemic is appreciated world over as a positive and welcome step. This pandemic has strained the capacity of the world to assist others. Therefore, international cooperation is imperative.  It is in this context that India has reached out to its friendly countries across the world.  Following the prime minister’s discussions with various heads of state/governments, India has since assisted over 100 countries with medical supplies and equipment to combat COVID-19. Essential medicines such as Paracetamol, hydroxychloroquine, emergency medicines, PPEs, etc. to fight the pandemic are being supplied on a priority basis when the world is facing acute shortage of these medicines. As part of its commitment to train healthcare professionals and experts across the world, the Ministry of External Affairs of India has since conducted a series of e-ITEC short training live webinars for healthcare professionals on COVID19 Management Strategies and related aspects,” the release from the Indian High Commission said.

During his meeting with CARICOM leaders in September 2019, Prime Minister Modi had put forward three offers of assistance to CARICOM countries: (i) US$ 14 million Grant (US$ 1million per CARICOM member state) for quick- impact community development projects in CARICOM countries; (ii) a US$150 million Line of Credit (US$ 10 million per CARICOM member state) for CARICOM countries for solar energy and climate change-related projects; and special capacity building courses, training and deputation of experts based on the needs and requirements of the CARICOM countries.

“We encourage the Government of Guyana to avail the assistance of Line of Credit funding to the tune of US$ 10 million for solar energy related projects, as the country needs solar energy projects, given its abundance in [sic] sunlight and the requirement of power for rural areas, hinterland areas, Amerindian regions, etc.  Similarly, the people of Guyana are invited to utilise more and more ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) training slots for the benefit of the people and to make a pool of skilled manpower resources in the country.  The Government of India and the High Commission of India would be happy to increase this number if there is additional requirement from the Government and people of Guyana.  Special-capacity building courses, training and deputation of experts could also be taken up based on the requirements,” the Indian High Commission said.