‘Made in India’ vaccines ‘a gift to the world’, says President Ramaphosa

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have accelerated Indian outreach to the African continent. India has been delivering aid and training to African countries in their fight against the virus from sending medical teams to supplying 1 million doses of vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. As South Africa battles with second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two leaders exchanged communication for collaborative efforts against the pandemic. “Spoke to President Cyril Ramaphosa about the measures India and South Africa are taking to fight the COVID-19 pandemic domestically and internationally. India’s capacity to produce medicines and vaccines is supporting the efforts of many nations, including our friends in Africa,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted. Mr Ramaphosa praised the Indian Government for its ‘gift to the world’ in the form of vaccines and scientific knowledge along with the assurance received by the Indian Government to support countries in Africa with a special package of vaccines and the joint initiative of The Vaccine Alliance and WHO COVAX with 13 million doses by the end of February 2021.”In it together. Made in India vaccines land in Johannesburg, South Africa,” tweeted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.