Union Health Minister hails Centre-State coordination in fight against COVID-19 at ‘Aksha Lessons from India’

New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said that India’s political leadership took decisive actions at crucial times in a strategic manner by learning and amalgamating best global practices to manage the COVID pandemic.

He was speaking at the ‘Aksha Lessons from India’, an event organised by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the national capital on Monday.

“India presented an exemplary model of COVID-19 management with Centre and States working in unison in a federal democracy. Jan Andolan and Jan Bhagidari are key pillars of India’s COVID-19 management strategy,” added Mandaviya.

भारत विविधताओं से भरा हुआ देश है। इतनी बड़ी जनसंख्या, इतनी भाषाएँ, कोविड का एक Holistic Management कैसे हो सकता है, इसका सबसे बड़ा उदाहरण भारत है।#COVIDLessonsFromIndia pic.twitter.com/tBbkVBOxPJ

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 21, 2022

At the event, Dr. Rodrigo Ofrin, Country Director, WHO outlined the sheer number of people, vaccination centres, cold chains and other associated networks employed in the mammoth vaccination exercise across India. He praised the country’s vaccine manufacturing capability, stating that “India is already a vaccine super power in the world as over 70% vaccines for various antigens in the world are manufactured in India”.

India has shown the way.

A prepared India is a prepared world.

India’s response makes the world’s fight successful: Dr Roderico Ofrin, Country Representative, @WHO
#COVIDLessonsFromIndia pic.twitter.com/xDRU5WubRE

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 22, 2022

Meanwhile, DR Chris Elias, President, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said India made new innovations quickly to deal with COVID-19 crisis.

”India faced the challenges very well and deal with the crisis carefully, and showed evidence-driven leadership,” said Elias.

Three key #COVIDLessonsFromIndia for the world:

– Evidence driven leadership at the top

– Innovation in regulatory science

– Harnessing different end of science to bring new innovations quickly: Dr Chris Elias, President, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pic.twitter.com/lIZZ74QKRk

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 22, 2022

Takeo Konishi, Country Director, Asian Development Bank said, ”India’s approach is a shining example that we should all take lessons from it.”

India’s approach is a shining example that we should all take lessons from: Takeo Konishi – Country Director, Asian Development Bank#COVIDLessonsFromIndia pic.twitter.com/r83nbcbKoZ

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 22, 2022

The Deputy Representative at UNICEF India, Yausmasa Kimura said, ”India set the lessons for other countries by launching door-to-door vaccine campaign, 24*7 clinic, and mega vaccination camps.”

India is leaving no one behind: Yasumasa Kimura, Deputy @UNICEFIndia Representative#COVIDLessonsFromIndia pic.twitter.com/M51tjL8OfR

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 22, 2022

Country Heads and Representatives from Development Partners such as World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) were present at the meet.