As a part of India’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, India extended an assistance of 1 million USD to the government of Antigua and Barbuda to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic and to improve their health infrastructure and capacity.
On 7th August 2020, Under the 1 million USD assistance, KJ Srinivasa, Indian High Commission in Guyana handed over the medical supplies, equipment and medicine to Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda over a virtual platform.
India’s assistance:
i.The funding from India will be used to procure medical supplies and equipment like ventilators, PPE equipment, etc.,
ii.Under this assistance, India has provided ventilators, full cover goggles, disposable impervious gowns, face shields, examination gloves and disposable masks to Antigua and Barbuda.
iii.Indian government has also provided around 10,000 hydroxychloroquine tablets to the government of Antigua and Barbuda free of cost.
Antigua and Barbuda’s COVID-19 response:
i.India-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) fund managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation(UNOSSC) and the guidelines of the Sustainable development goals(SDG) processed the “Strengthening national Health capacities and reducing socio-economic and human development negative impacts of COVID19 crisis in Antigua and Barbuda” proposed by the government of Antigua and Barbuda for assistance and collaboration.
ii.This will be implemented by the UNDP in partnership with National Institute of Antigua and Barbuda.
Key Points:
i.India also provided 1 million USD assistance to each country of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a group of 20 developing countries in the Caribbean.
ii.India has provided medical supplies and equipment to more than 100 countries to support their combat against COVID-19 pandemic
Funding proposals:
In the CARICOM meeting on September 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposed 3 offers of assistance for CARICOM countries,
- 14 million USD grant for quick impacts community development projects
- 150 million USD line of credit for solar energy and climate change related projects.
- Capacity building courses, training and deputation of experts on the needs and requirements of the CARICOM countries.
Recent Related News:
i.On the request of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Government of India (GoI) has extended medical assistance in the form of anti-tuberculosis medicines worth about USD 1 million to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
ii.The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved the 3 Million USD (about Rs.22 Crore) from the ADB’s Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund (APDRF) to India to support the Government’s emergency response to COVID-19. The amount was financed by Japanese government.
About Antigua and Barbuda:
Governor General– Sir Rodney Williams
Prime Minister– Gaston Browne
Capital– Saint John’s
Currency– East Caribbean dollar
