PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that India’s considerable productive capacity for pharmaceuticals and vaccines would continue to serve the needs of all countries, including those in Africa.
PM Modi and Cyril Ramaphosa, during a telephonic conversation, discussed the continuing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and in this context, the vaccination campaigns being undertaken in their respective countries, a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement said.
“Spoke to President @CyrilRamaphosa about the measures India and South Africa are taking to fight the COVID-19 pandemic domestically and internationally. India’s capacity to produce medicines and vaccines is supporting the efforts of many nations, including our friends in Africa,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
The two leaders also discussed possibilities of collaboration between India and South Africa in various international fora, to facilitate access and affordability of vaccines and medicines.
PM Modi and Ramphosa agreed that officials of both countries would remain in touch over the coming days to exchange experiences and explore potential for collaborative efforts against the pandemic, according to the PMO.
Earlier this week, made-in-India vaccines reached South Africa in an aircraft and President Ramaphosa received the consignment of doses.
During the telephonic call with PM Modi Ramaphosa applauded the government and people of India for its gift to the world in the form of vaccines and scientific knowledge.
According to Presidency, Ramaphosa conveyed the profound gratitude expressed by the people of South Africa to India for its solidarity with South Africa in fighting the pandemic.
“The leaders shared their concern that the COVID-19 virus is mutating constantly and presenting more challenges and new waves in all countries,” the Presidency said in a statement.
“Prime Minister Modi indicated that India will be developing one or two more vaccines and that India will continue to support countries in Africa with a special package of vaccines. India will also support the COVAX facility – a joint initiative of The Vaccine Alliance and the World Health Organisation – with 13 million doses by the end of February 2021.”
The two leaders noted that there is growing support internationally for the proposal submitted by South Africa and India to the World Trade Organisation’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council for a temporary waiver of certain TRIPS obligations.
The waiver will make vaccines more affordable and enable local production.
(SOURCE: NDTV & INSIDE POLITICS)
