COVID-19 Pandemic Provided Learning Curve To Be More Resilient, Prepared For Future: Dr Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic has provided a learning curve for us to be better prepared for the future, said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. He was addressing the World Bank- International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting on Wednesday based on the theme — “Unleashing the South Asian Century through Human Capital for All” and “Investing in COVID-19 Vaccines and Primary Healthcare Delivery System”.

Also Read: IIT-Kharagpur Develops Low-Cost, Portable COVID-19 Testing Device

“The COVID pandemic has created disruption in normal life but has also provided a steep learning curve for all of us to be more resilient and prepared for the future. These efforts have been a result of commitment from all stakeholders,” Mr. Vardhan said at the meeting.

He further said that the biggest benefit for India was that it already has been implementing “the largest immunisation program of the world, with nearly 27 million new-borns targeted for immunisation annually.”

The Union Health Minister further said that the established infrastructure for Universal Immunisation Program, will come in handy for last mile delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine, as and when it becomes available, to the identified priority groups.

Reaffirming the government’s stance on research and manufacturing to ensure the vaccine reaches the last person, he said,

Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, we have constituted a National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration which is working on all aspects, as well as designing innovative approaches to distribute vaccines in rural and remote regions.

The India story has always been very inspiring as we have made huge strides in improving the health of our people in the last two decades and now, India will be critical to fighting COVID-19 especially when it comes to making vaccines at large scale for the whole world, the Union Minister added.

Also Read: India In ‘Extremely Comfortable Position’ In Terms Of Oxygen Availability: Health Ministry

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.