JOE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION USA:DELAY IN OFFER OF HELP TO INDIA IN ITS HOUR OF COVID CRISIS: DELIBERATE? OR A MARK OF CREEPING SENILITY?
It has taken a full week for Biden Administration in USA to come out of its, slumber. It is a strange way to treat a ‘Strategic Partner’.
The comatose state of USA under President Joe Biden in its inability to even extend a message of sympathy to India in its hour of acute need due the Second Covid wave was most disappointing to say the least and has raised questions on the very basis of Indo US relationship.
The deliberate withholding of crucial components for vaccines manufacture, by President Biden, despite appeals by Indian industry had already affected Indian abilities to combat the Covid pandemic.
Many say this is a repeat of 1971, when USA under President Nixon and his side kick Kissinger, deliberately refused to aid India during the Bangladesh refugee crisis and worse, took many steps to harm its interests.
THE UGLY AMERICAN ?
‘America first’: US defends export curbs on COVID vaccine raw materials amid India’s request to lift ban.
A senior US State Department official has said the Joe Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people as far as COVID-19 vaccine is concerned.
Washington: Defending US’ restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine that threatens to slow India’s vaccination drive, a senior State Department official has said the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people.
When asked when the Biden administration would decide on India’s request to lift a ban on the export of vaccine raw materials, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “…the United States first and foremost is engaged in an ambitious and effective and, so far, successful effort to vaccinate the American people….
It is not only in the US interest to see Americans vaccinated; but it is in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated, he said.
World Response
The Second Wave of Covid infections has India facing an unprecedented situation, many would call it a time of national disaster. It is unfolding before our eyes and has drawn attention of the world.
In these tough times it is heartening to see the responses of Countries around the world jumping up with offers of help in several ways, to combat the situation.
Countries with large pockets apart, even city states like Singapore rushed in to provide support. UK, Japan, China and even Pakistan sent messages of encouragement and promises of support.
CHINA
It is interesting to note how China has behaved in this time of crisis. “India’s estranged neighbour China had also extended an unlikely olive branch and said it was in talks with New Delhi to offer assistance. But on Monday, Beijing did a U-turn by suspending cargo flights that were rushing COVID-19 medical supplies including the coveted oxygen concentrators to India, stating the sudden changes in the epidemic in India, and the intent to reduce the number of imported cases”. https://www.dtnext.in/News/National/2021/04/27004317/
Delayed Reaction BY USA
It took a full week for the comatose Biden administration to come out of slumber.
Many consider it an afterthought, and a halfhearted gesture.
USA is flush with vaccines and has millions of vials of Astra Zeneca lying unutilised its holds. It will probably never have to use them.
25 APRIL 2021
“India logged a record 3,49,691 new coronavirus infections in a day taking its total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,69,60,172, while active cases crossed the 26-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.
The death toll increased to 1,92,311 with a record 2,767 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 26,82,751 comprising 15.82 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 83.05 per cent.” https://www.tribuneindia.com/
It is no secret that India is facing an extremely demanding situation since the beginning of April, due to the sudden impact of the Second Wave of Covid Pandemic. With infections soaring to 3 lakhs per day and more than 2500 deaths, Prime Minister Modi called it a Tsunami.
What has compounded the misery is the state of complete unpreparedness of the health systems in every state without exception. Pain and suffering due to a shortage of beds in hospitals has been made far worse by the acute shortage of Oxygen across the country.
At last, the governments in the centre and the states are rushing in to fill up the gaps and argument beds and supplies of oxygen and medicines.
OXYGEN Shortage
“When you look at it from an all-India perspective, we are very comfortable as a country. At present, 7,200 metric tonnes per day (MTPD) of oxygen is manufactured in India in liquid form, which is supplied to hospitals. The current demand is 5,000 MTPD only,” Jain told the publication. https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/
However, there is a shortage of Containers and cylinders as well as bulk carriers. These delay the transportation of filled containers to hospitals. There have been cases of oxygen reaching late and patients dying due to lack of oxygen.
Bureaucrats have also been interfering in the distribution systems like in Delhi government where they unilaterally stopped Inox from replenishing oxygen to 28 hospitals.
Hospital Beds & Shortage of First Line Workers
By the time of the second wave, the health minister said, “the country has substantially ramped up the hospital infrastructure for management of COVID”. There were 2,084 dedicated COVID hospitals, 4,043 COVID health centres and 9,313 COVID care centres in the country, per the accompanying Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) press release on April 9. These numbers all represent substantial increases since April 2020.
Between December 2020 and April 2021, the number of dedicated COVID hospitals fell by 6%. Similarly, there was a 6% reduction in the number of dedicated COVID health centres, falling to 4,043 in April from 4,300 in December 2020. Only the number of dedicated COVID care centres increased by 5%, from 8,857 in December 2020 to 9,313 in April 2020. COVID care centres, however, are not equipped for severe cases, only COVID hospitals and health centres. https://www.indiaspend.com/covid-19/
VACCINATIONS
Position as on 26 April 2021
Total Vaccinated 14,30,73,074 Vaccinated Today 4,43,93
https://www.dtnext.in/News/National/2021/04/27004317/
Ø Infections are expected to peak by 15 May but continue till July August. It has created havoc on the economy and affected lives of every Indian family. All educational institutions are closed, so are offices and most of the manufacturing plants. Transportation is at a standstill.
Ø What is worse is the ignorance of the COVID 19 characteristics even after a year and no one can predict its future course. Will this second wave be the final one or will there be more waves. If so what will be their intensity.
Ø As expected Prime Minister Modi has taken the lead, and today every chief minister is personally taking stock of the situation.
Ø Experts in oxygen manufacture, Industrial Giants like Tata and Mahindra are pitching in withier resources. Experts like Dr Devi Shetty a cardiac surgeon and Chairman and Founder, Narayana Health, are coming out with great suggestions on how to augment the First line respondents in Hospitals.
Election Commission Has banned large gatherings and post elections ‘ victory celebrations’ by political parties on and from 02 May.
Ø India will receive first batch of Russia’s Sputnik V covid vaccine on May 1. Ø 44 new oxygen plants to be set up in Delhi within a month: Arvind Kejriwal
Ø The US has eased export of raw materials for Covishield production in India, paving the way for Serum Institute of India to scale up capacity.
Ø The coming years are going to be difficult. But the positive side is that at last all Indians appear to be taking this issue seriously. Even politicians have started talking of working together for public good.
Originally published at https://colrama-braj.medium.com on April 27, 2021.