India is one of countries which has been hit hardest by the Covid-19 health emergency, one reason being the presence of the new strain of the virus there. This has put the country in a critical situation which is punishing socially underprivileged groups in particular. In this scenario, the City Council is to pay a subsidy of 100,000 euros to Oxfam Intermón to implement a project to help tackle the crisis gripping the country.

The goal of the project by Oxfam India, to be executed in 2021, is to guarantee the immediate survival and improved resilience of the most vulnerable people in the state of Bihar and Chhattisgarh.

The subsidy will help with the distribution of equipment and essential medical supplies to health institutions in these states, providing respiratory machines, oxygen flow meters, articulated beds and more. Over 1,100 personal protection suits will also be provided for medical staff, social workers and the rest of the community. At the same time, support will be given for disinfection and hygiene measures in hospitals, with medical equipment provided and a boost for public health campaigns.

Similarly, the project guarantees food safety in the most vulnerable communities through the distribution of food to 3,500 people affected by the second wave and cash transfers for 100 families.

Call to waive patents

India is one of the world’s main vaccine producers but so far has only been able to vaccinate one in twenty-five people.

The Barcelona declaration to waive vaccine patents was presented in April. The document is backed by professionals, public agencies and international world health organisations, who call on national and European authorities to take the necessary steps for pharmaceutical industries to temporarily waive vaccine patents and share knowledge to speed up production capacity.