India has handed over 31 life support ambulance and other medical equipment to Bangladesh in an effort to help the country  deal with the COVID-19 situation.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami handed over these to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at a programme held at State guesthouse Padma.

On behalf of the Government and people of India, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami formally handed over these.

Also read: Indian sends 30 ambulances to Bangladesh

The ambulances marked the first tranche in an overall programme of supplying 109 Life Support Ambulances, as announced by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during his State visit to Bangladesh in March 2021.

The remaining units will be delivered shortly, said the High Commission.

The medical supplies provided in this ceremony included Oxygen nasal cannula, Oxygen face masks, Oxygen flow  meters, Non-rebreather Mask, pulse oxymeter devices, high flow nasal cannulas, Liquid Medical Oxygen cylinders of 10 Ltr capacity, LMO Cylinders of 45 ltrs capacity, Oxygen concentrators and infra thermometers.

These supplies are intended to further support the Government of Bangladesh’s extensive efforts to combat the COVID pandemic and beyond.

Also read: India's fourth Oxygen Express arrives with 200 MT of medical oxygen

Even after the pandemic, the Ambulances are intended to support Bangladesh’s ongoing and strong efforts to upgrade public health services.

These ambulances reflect India’s unswerving and long-term commitment to its unique and special friendship with the Bangladeshi people, said the High Commission.

As the ties transcend even strategic partnerships, India remains ready to further support the Government and people of Bangladesh in their own resolute responses to public health emergencies, within the limits of India’s own capacity, and in a manner that is sustainable and people-centric, it said.

Earlier, Bangladesh gifted Remdesivir and other Covid-19 related medicines symbolizing mutual cooperation when India experienced unprecedented spike of Covid-19 infection.