Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the creation of a Covid-19 emergency fund and asked for cooperation between all countries in the SAARC region and offered initial contribution of $10 million to combat Coronavirus.
“I propose we create a Covid-19 emergency fund,” the Prime Minister said. “This could be based on voluntary contributions from all of us. India can start with an initial offer of $10 million for this fund. Any of us can use the fund to meet the cost of immediate actions. Our foreign secretaries, through our embassies, can coordinate quickly to finalize the concept of this fund and its operations.”
“So far, our region has listed fewer than 150 cases. But we need to remain vigilant. Our SAARC region is home to nearly one-fifth of all humanity. It is densely populated. “As developing countries, all of us have significant challenges in terms of
access to healthcare facilities,” said Modi in his opening remarks at the video conference of leaders from the eight-member grouping on Sunday.
The total number of infected person in India was counted are as many as 107 on Sunday followed by two death caused by the virus.
The PM will also create a common research platform which will carry out research to control epidemic disease in the region.
PM’s team had made a careful note of some of the SAARC countries request for medicines and equipments, Modi had said that he will do their best its neighbouring countries.
Discussion and sharing of best practices and coordinate regional matters on combating the Coronavirus was proposed by Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka President.
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Minister of State for Health Zafar Mirza. These people were also included in the video conference.
“Experts could brainstorm on the longer-term economic consequences of Covid-19 and how South Asia can insulate internal trade and local value chains from its impact. He suggested that common Saarc pandemic protocols could be drawn up and applied in such situations. While inaugurating the video-conference on Sunday evening, the Indian PM also listed steps ranging from health protocols to airport screening to combat the disease,” said PM Narendra Modi.
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