US Envoy Eric Garcetti, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Discuss US-India Health G20 Priorities

New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Tuesday (August 29) held a meeting with Union Health Dr Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and discussed US-India health G20 priorities. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr. Garcetti stated that the health collaborations in Research and Development (R&D), artificial intelligence and increasing health access and equity will be key in advancing health partnership between India and the US for a healthier and prosperous world. Mr. Garcetti wrote in a post on X,

Also Read: G20 Health Ministers Call For Building Resilient, Equitable Access To Affordable Medicines In Developing World 

Mr. Garcetti made the statement in response to Dr Mandaviya’s post shared on X. Minister Mandaviya stated that they discussed health priorities of India’s G20 Presidency. The two sides also discussed ways to better deal with mental health, cancer diabetes and use of artificial intelligence. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Minister Mandaviya stated,

Delighted to meet @USAmbIndia Eric Garcetti. Discussed India’s G20 Presidency health priorities. He lauded India’s efforts in the healthcare sector and also appreciated health-related G20 Ministerial events.

In another post, Minister Mandaviya stated,

We also deliberated on forming dense networks in research & development, especially in the vaccine and pharma sectors. During our interaction, we also discussed ways to better deal with issues of mental health, cancer & diabetes along with the use of AI.

Also Read: ‘Healthcare More Than Just Sector, It’s A Mission’: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Addresses G20 Health Working Group Meet

Last week, US Ambassador to India Eric Mr. Garcetti said US President Joe Biden told him that India is the most important country in the world to him. Mr. Garcetti said,

He (President Biden) told me, when he asked me to come here to serve, he said, this is the most important country in the world to me, I think something that no American president has ever uttered in the history of our two countries…Indian Americans constitute six per cent of taxpayers in the US.

US Envoy said,

From technology to trade, from the environment to women’s empowerment, from small businesses to space, we used to say the sky is the limit, but now that we’re working together in space, not even the sky is the limit. From the seabed to the heavens, the US and India are a force for good and a powerful force to move this world forward.

Mr. Garcetti said he wanted to come to India for his junior year to live in Bodhgaya and do a Buddhist studies program. He further said,

But politics got in the way. I got elected to the student council, and I said I promised I’d serve. So my India dream kind of died, or so I thought. But the universe has a curious way of connecting people and dreams, and now suddenly, I’m living that dream here.

Also Read: Outcome Document Unanimously Adopted At G20 Health Ministers’ Meeting In Gandhinagar

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.