India to assist Maldives in fight against Covid-19

India will be assisting the Maldives to combat against the Covid-19 disease.

The Indian government will provide medical professionals and medications to the Maldives to contain the disease, according to a statement by the Indian High Commission in the Maldives.

The disease has now been categorized as a pandemic by the WHO.

As part of assisting the Maldives, India will provide a team of pulmonologists, anesthetists, physicians, and laboratory technicians as well as medication to assist in the recovery of the disease. The medications were banned from being exported by India, but the move to provide these medications to the Maldives comes due to the close relationship between the two neighboring countries, according to the Indian High Commission.

Such assistance proved the strength of the relationship between the two countries and the neighborhood first policy as well as the India-Maldives first policy, according to the High Commission.

India also assisted in the relocation and evacuation of Maldivians trapped in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started. The city was placed in lockdown following the breakout and India evacuated the Maldivians in the city along with its citizens.

The Maldives has confirmed eight cases of the disease so far.