17 June 2021, New Delhi, India: The second wave of Covid -19 continues to horrify the residents of India. As a result, it become important to cater the need of the healthcare industry considering the burden the pandemic has brought upon the system. 

The Government of Latvia has contributed USD 60,000 for the procurement of these critical medical equipment, as part of the broader European Union’s assistance to India’s response to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds will be used to purchase Indian-made AgVa ventilators.

The European Union stands in full solidarity with India to provide support for COVID-19 response through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and individual government to government and business-to-business partnerships.

“In today’s interconnected world, the battle against the invisible enemy should be a global and united effort. It is as simple as that: no one is safe until everyone is safe. India has been an invaluable driving force in the COVAX mission, and it is just fair that we give a helping hand to our Indian friends at this difficult time. I am very pleased to be working with UNDP in India to contribute to building the capacity of the Indian health system“, said H.E. Mr. Artis Bērtulis, Ambassador of Latvia to India.

“I would like to thank the Government of Latvia for this critical support that will allow UNDP to ensure further strengthening of the health systems through procuring critical medical equipment for the state of Nagaland.  The pandemic continues to threaten millions of lives and overwhelm the health system in the country. UNDP urgently needs additional support and resources to reach the last mile to ensure no one is left behind,” shared Ms. Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India.

In addition to this, UNDP has also been supporting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with digitization of supply chain of vaccines and tracking beneficiaries across states to ensure better access and coverage. It has also helped build capacities of 820,500 frontline workers across the country to support the ‘world’s largest vaccination drive’.