India is at the forefront of vaccine development for Covid-19 with some of the vaccines in advanced stages, the Prime Minister said on Monday.
Narendra Modi said, “India was putting in place a well-established vaccine delivery system, through a digitized network along with the digital health ID, for the immunization of citizens.”
“Today, we are seeing a decline in the number of cases per day and the growth rate of cases. India has one of the highest recovery rates of 88 percent. This happened because India was one of the first countries to adopt a lockdown,” Modi said addressing the inaugural function of Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2020.
“This happened because India was one of the first countries to adopt a flexible lockdown when the total cases were just a few hundred,” Modi said.
The future will be shaped by societies that invest in science and innovation. The prime minister also referred to many interventions made by India, including for improved cleanliness and greater toilet coverage, which contribute to a better healthcare system.
The annual event brings together scientists and innovators from across the world in order to deliberate on solving the key global challenges.
“Now we are ensuring every household gets piped drinking water. This will further ensure disease reduction. We are setting up more medical colleges, especially in rural areas. It brings better healthcare into our villages,” he said.
Considering the role of science during Covid-19 In India, the Prime Minister said that India has a strong and vibrant scientific community.
The Grand Challenges Annual Meeting 2020 is being co-hosted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, the Indian Council of Medical Research and NITI Aayog, along with the Grand Challenges Canada, the United States Agency for International Development and Welcome.
