Modi proposes Covid-19 emergency fund; SAARC leaders echo sentiment
After his proposal was welcomed with open arms by India's South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) contemporaries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hosted a video-conference meet of leaders of all SAARC member nations. The Prime Minister opened the discussion by mentioning India's efforts and action intend to limit the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
The conference witnessed participation from Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Special Assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Zafar Mirza.
India:
Among the key takeaways from the video-conference was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal for a Covid-19 emergency fund. He even went ahead and committed USD 10 million for the fund. Neighbours in South Asia can control the spread of the novel coronavirus by "coming together, not growing apart," said Prime Minister Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also assured SAARC leaders a team of Indian medical authorities will be at the disposal of member nations if so when required. PM Modi also mentioned that India's neighbours can consider an Integrated Disease Surveillance Portal (IDSP) that's currently being used to find infected patients and contact tracing.
Maldives:
Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that a coordinated approach must deal with Covid-19 and no country can cope with this crisis alone.
Sri Lanka:
"SAARC leaders should formulate a mechanism to help the economies of the spot to tide over problems posed by novel coronavirus," Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said.
Bangladesh:
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina proposed that health secretaries and experts from all SAARC member nations should coordinate via video-conference so that you can monitor and curb the spread of Covid-19.
Nepal:
"Our collective efforts can help us devise a sound and robust technique for SAARC region to fight coronavirus," Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli said.
Bhutan:
Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering weighed in by saying that countries in your community should be on a single page in the fight novel coronavirus, adding that SAARC member nations must pool within their limited resources to battle this crisis.
Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering joins the SAARC leaders in a video conference to go over and coordinate in tackling COVID-19 outbreak in your community. The conference can be an initiative of PM Modi.
Pakistan:
A particular advisor to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dr Zafar Mirza said that no nation are able to be unresponsive to the problem in wake of coronavirus outbreak.
