UN chief Antonio Guterres has singer appreciation for India’s leadership in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its efforts to bring a “much-needed supply” of the COVID-1 9 inoculations to the world market. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti tweeted on Saturday that Guterres, in a letter dated February 17, “extends his personal gratitude” to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for “India’s offer of 200,000 doses” of COVID-1 9 vaccines for UN peacekeepers. The Secretary-General says “India has been a global leader in pandemic response efforts”, Tirumurti tweeted, carrying his gratitude to the UN Chief. In an excerpt of the letter tweeted by Tirumurti, Guterres says, “Indeed, India has been a global leader in pandemic response endeavors having supplied critical remedies, diagnostic packages, ventilators and personal protective rig to more than 150 countries. “Efforts by India in developing and manufacturing one of the two inoculations currently granted Emergency Use Listing by the World Health Organization bring a much-needed supply to the world-wide inoculation market. I also increase your continued efforts to support and strengthen the COVAX Facility to ensure more equitable access.” COVAX is is a world initiative aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-1 9 inoculations. On Wednesday, India, which has been acclaimed as the pharmacy of the world, announced the endow of 200, 000 COVID-1 9 quantities for UN peacekeepers. “Keeping in spirit the UN Peacekeepers who are moving in such difficult circumstances, we would like to announce today a gift of 200, 000 quantities for them, ” Jaishankar said, addressing the UN Security Council open debate on the implementation of resolution 2532( 2020) on the cessation of hostilities in the context of the COVID-1 9 pandemic. Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, Jaishankar had said “Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind.” He told the meeting that it is this spirit in which India approachings the COVID challenge and suggested the Council to work collectively to address its different dimensions. The 200,000 doses essentially mean that it will be possible to administer the required double dosages of COVID vaccines to all UN peacekeepers across duties. Harmonizing to UN Peacekeeping, currently, a total of 94,484 personnel are serving in 12 peacekeeping operations across the world led by the Department of Peace Business. A total of 121 people are contributing uniformed personnel to the UN peacekeeping missions. India is traditionally among the largest troop-contributing countries to peacekeeping missions. Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, had told in response to a question on the Secretary General’s estimates on the announcement by India, said that Guterres is “extremely grateful” for the talent of 200, 000 COVID-1 9 vaccine doses for UN peacekeepers and the delivery will be operationalised by the UN’s Department of Support. “We are extremely grateful for this donation announced today by the Indian delegation. The distribution will be operationalised by the UN’s Department of Support, ” Dujarric had said. Earlier this week, two versions of the AstraZeneca/ Oxford COVID-1 9 inoculation please give WHO Emergency Use Listing( EUL ). The different versions of the AstraZeneca/ Oxford vaccine, is provided by AstraZeneca-SK Bioscience( AZ-SKBio) and the Serum Institute of India( AZ-SII ), are now available for world rollout through the COVAX Facility. The vaccine Covishield is the version of the AstraZeneca/ Oxford vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. Covaxin is the indigenously developed inoculation by pharma company Bharat Biotech. Jaishankar said these two inoculations have already been granted emergency authorisation and additionally, as numerous as 30 nominees are under various stages of development. Under the initiative “Vaccine Maitri”, which translates into Vaccine Friendship, India is providing inoculations to the world. Last-place month, Guterres had said that the vaccine production capacity of India is “one of the most wonderful assets the world has today”, and had applauded India for supplying COVID-1 9 inoculations to nations various regions of the world. “I would like to say how much we count on India. I want, India has one of the most advanced pharmaceutical industries. India dallied a very important role in the production of generics for employ that was a very important element of democratisation of access to medicines all over the world, ” Guterres had said.

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