India to be sent life-saving equipment from NWSSP national distribution centre

From left: Minister for Health Vaughan Gething; NWSSP Managing Director Neil Frow; Head of Supply Chain, Logistics and Transport Tony Chatfield and Director Mark Roscrow.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething and Chair of the Wales branch of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), Professor Keshav Singhal, visited NWSSP's National Distribution Centre at IP5 in Newport today (Monday 10 May) to inspect the supplies.

The Welsh Government and NHS Wales are providing around 600 oxygen concentrators and more than 300 ventilators which are due to leave for India in the coming days.

Prof Keshav Singhai, helping co-ordinate the relief effort, says it is one of the biggest shipments of life-saving equipment coming from the UK.

India has recorded more than more than 19 million cases of coronavirus - second only to the US. Scientists are looking into whether a new Indian variant could be behind the rise in cases. The equipment will be sent to hospitals in some of the worst-hit areas of India.

"It's been very intense work for the last week or so," said Mr Singhai, Wales chair of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. "I must say it's been incredibly powerful because officials were working all through the weekend," he added.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said:

"COVID-19 is a global threat and as such it is right that we are part of the global response, supporting other nations. We have worked closely with the UK Government and the Government of India on the logistics in arranging for these supplies to be transported to India and distributed to the hospitals where they are needed most."

NWSSP Director Mark Roscrow added that the shipment was possible "because the situation in Wales is much better", saying Wales was "able to play our little part in helping".

Flights are being arranged by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office.