Mission Sagar: India's helping hand across the Indian Ocean

Amid the ongoing Novel Coronavirus pandemic across the globe, India has sent Indian Naval Ship Kesari, carrying on board two Medical Assistance Teams, consignments of COVID-related essential medicines and essential food items to countries in Southern Indian Ocean Region, as part of the Indian government's Mission Sagar initiative. The countries, including Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles, had requested India for assistance in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Medical Assistance Teams will be deployed in Mauritius and Comoros, helping their governments deal with the COVID emergency and dengue fever (in case of Comoros). The Ship will deliver consignments of essential medicines to Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles and about 600 tonnes of food items to Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement here. In addition, in case of Mauritius, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines is also being sent. The consignments meant for Madagascar and Comoros also includes Hydroxychloroquine tablets, which have already been sent earlier to Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles. In line with it's time-tested role as the first responder in the region, India has already supported the efforts of the Governments of Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles, by providing them consignments of COVID-related essential medicines. A team of select medical personnel was also dispatched to Maldives, to augment the preparedness of the Maldivian Government, to fight this crisis. 'Mission Sagar' is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) in the Region.