Second Global Covid-19 Summit – India to expand genome sequencing network to neighborhood: PM Modi

What is the News?

The Indian Prime Minister has addressed the Second Global Covid-19 Summit.

What is the Second Global Covid-19 Summit?

Organized by: United States (as first COVID Summit Chair), Belize (as CARICOM Chair), Germany (holding the G7 Presidency), Indonesia (holding the G20 Presidency) and Senegal (as African Union Chair).

Aim: To galvanize new actions to address the continued challenges of the pandemic and build a stronger global health security architecture.

Theme: Preventing Pandemic Fatigue and Prioritizing Preparedness.

What are the key highlights from the Indian PM address at the summit?

Firstly, India adopted a people-centric strategy to combat the pandemic and has made the highest ever allocation for its health budget this year. 

Secondly, India was running the largest vaccination campaign in the world and had vaccinated close to ninety percent of its adult population and more than fifty million children.

Thirdly, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog), a national multi-agency consortium of genome sequencing laboratories established in 2020 would soon be extended to neighboring countries.

Fourthly, India has used traditional medicine extensively and has laid the foundation for a WHO Center for Traditional Medicine in India to make this knowledge available to the world.

Source:  The post is based on the article “India to expand genome sequencing network to neighborhood: PM Modi” published in Indian Express on 13th May 2022.