By Caribbean News Global 
LONDON, England – More than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment will be sent to India to support the country in its fight against COVID-19, the UK government has announced.
India has this week reported its highest numbers of new daily cases and deaths since the pandemic began and is facing severe shortages of oxygen.
Following discussions with the government of India, the first shipment of equipment will leave the UK Sunday, April, 25, arriving in New Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The UK is working closely with the government of India to identify further assistance it can provide in the coming days. The assistance package, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, includes ventilators and oxygen concentrators from surplus stocks. It will be used by the government of India to provide vital medical treatment to those suffering from COVID-19 in India. The department of health and social care have worked closely with the National Health Service (NHS) as well as suppliers and manufacturers in the UK to identify reserve life-saving equipment that can be sent to India.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab, said: “We are supporting our Indian friends with vital medical equipment at a difficult time for them in this pandemic. We have all got to work together to tackle COVID-19. India is a very important partner to us, so we’re providing oxygen concentrators and ventilators to help save the lives of the most vulnerable. We will be following up on this first delivery with further support, based on our ongoing discussions with the Indian government.”
In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to the country this week. This equipment will be crucial in helping to save the lives of the most vulnerable in India. The oxygen concentrators, for example, can extract oxygen from the air in the atmosphere so that it can be provided to patients, taking the strain off hospital oxygen systems and allowing oxygen to be provided in situations where hospital oxygen supplies have run out.
Prime minister Boris Johnson, said: “We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against COVID-19. Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time and I’m determined to make sure that the UK does everything it can to support the international community in the global fight against the pandemic.”
