The Indian government has dispatched immediately a consignment of medical supplies containing PPEs and medications to Kiribati after receiving an appeal for help from the Pacific Island country to manage the first Covid-19 outbreak in its territory.
The relief material sent by the Narendra Modi government includes pulse oximeters, swabs with VTM, specimen bags for swabs, PPE kits (surgical masks, gloves, N95 masks, shoe covers, hair caps, etc) and emergency Covid-19 medication supplies.
Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas) is an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, located in the central Pacific Ocean, about 4,000 km (about 2,500 miles) southwest of Hawaii. It is part of the division of the Pacific islands that is known as Micronesia. Kiribati consists of 33 coral islands divided among three island groups: the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands, and the Line Islands.
The majority of the atolls is barely more than six metres above sea level and surrounded by barrier reefs creating picturesque lagoons for fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming and other water sports.
Despite the logistical challenges in reaching the isolated Pacific island country, the medical supplies from India were put together and sent in a short span of time. The consignment reached Kiribati earlier today onboard a flight coordinated by the Australian Government.
"The consignment of medical supplies to Kiribati affirms India's commitment to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support as an early responder in the Pacific region. India remains committed to extend full support to Kiribati's national efforts in mitigating the challenges arising from the pandemic," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement today.
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