US Congresswoman Writes Letter To Prez Joe Biden Urging Him To Accelerate Covid Aid To India

In her letter, Ross also thanked Biden for ordering the delivery of supplies worth more than USD 100 million to provide urgent relief to India. 

US President Joe Biden | AFP

New Delhi: North Carolina Congresswoman, Deborah Ross in a letter to Joe Biden urged him to accelerate US assistance to India in terms of oxygen cylinders, ventilators, BiPAP machines and surplus vaccines. Observing that the US must also work to ensure vaccines are accessible in India, the Congresswoman welcomed recently announced plans to make available sources of raw materials to help the country manufacture more vaccines.

In her letter, Ross also thanked Biden for ordering the delivery of supplies worth more than USD 100 million to provide urgent relief to India. 

”Over the past several weeks, I have heard from constituents who fear for the health and safety of their family members in India. They worry that their loved ones will join those who are unable to locate oxygen or seek the care they need from overwhelmed hospitals and a healthcare system on the verge of collapse, Congresswoman Deborah Ross said in a letter to Biden according to PTI. 

The letter comes after Indian-American residents of North Carolina expressed their concern about the Covid situation in India to her as represents Second Congressional District of the state. From oxygen systems and personal protective equipment (PPE) to rapid diagnostic tests and therapeutics, the US support for India is a testament to the seven decades of partnership between the two countries, she said in her letter to Biden.

”Helping India respond to this latest wave is in our national interest, as this pandemic will not end anywhere until it ends everywhere. As India continues to combat this surge, I hope you will consider providing additional shipments of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, oxygen generator plants, remdesivir, tocilizumab, and ventilators/BiPAP machines, Ross said. India, she said, desperately needs health supplies, most notably oxygen and oxygen production equipment. The images and stories of patients in desperate need of oxygen with nowhere to turn put a human face on the country’s urgent need for this equipment, she added.

She urged Biden to share with India surplus doses of vaccines purchased by the US as soon as possible. ”I also understand that India is eager to domestically produce high-quality US vaccines, and I hope that you work with the private sector to assess how the US can best support India in this effort, she said.

Ross said as long as COVID-19 persists in India, there is a potential for the emergence of new variants that could pose a serious threat to a vaccinated America. ”We all must do our part to quell this virus around the globe. I thank you again for your commitments to date to support our ally India through this COVID-19 crisis, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to advance the US-India relationship, Ross said.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one shot to 70 per cent of adult Americans by July 4th as he tackles the vexing problem of winning over the “doubters” and those unmotivated to get inoculated.