US to donate 200 ventilators to India, first tranche of 50 to arrive soon
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US President Donald Trump had announced last week that America would donate ventilators to India to treat the patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy".
The United States is set to donate 200 ventilators to India with the first tranche of 50 expected to arrive soon -- as a part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The US has pledged USD 3.6 million to assist the government of India in response to COVID-19 and the selection of partners for the aid was based on the scope of work and in concurrence with the ministries of the Indian government.
US President Donald Trump had announced last week that America would donate ventilators to India to treat the patients and help it fight the "invisible enemy".
USAID Acting Director Ramona El Hamzaoui, during a tele-briefing with the media, had then asserted that it was a "donation". These ventilators would complement India's ongoing efforts to make the best of care immediately available to those most in need, she added.
Asked if the ventilators were being provided as part of some sort of a deal after India supplied hydroxychloroquine to the US, Hamzaoui said, "I do not think it is a quid pro quo. It is a partnership."
The US is providing ventilators to countries based on what is available and supporting partner countries. With regard to India specifically, the USAID has announced USD 5.9 million in funding to combat COVID-19, including USD 2.9 million to help India provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, strengthen case finding, contact tracing and surveillance.
The US National institutes of health has allocated USD 350 million towards this effort, while an additional allocation of USD 2.6 billion for the development and bringing to market has also been pledged.