France offers oxygen assistance to COVID battling India

Paris: France is said to have extended its support, offering necessary equipment to India that is fighting the worst situation of the second COVID emergence.

A statement released by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reads France's plan to send oxygen assistance to India.

French President Emmanuel Macron has organised a "solidarity operation" to aid India during the second wave of COVID-19 infections that has sent the country's healthcare systems into crisis mode.

According to the statement, France has promised India 8 oxygen concentrators manufactured by a French SME. Each concentrator can provide an Indian hospital with oxygen autonomy for a dozen years. These units are permanent fixtures that can produce medical oxygen from the oxygen present in the air. The concentrators can supply a 250-bed hospital under normal conditions and each can support 15 intubated COVID-19 patients.

"This equipment is designed to respond to the emergency but also to significantly boost the capacity of Indian hospitals over the long term to treat patients and fight the pandemic," said the ministry.

Oxygen cylinders, refilling equipment, 200 electric syringe pumps and 28 respirators are also part of the solidarity mission. These contributions come from many leading French companies.

"France and India have always stood together in solidarity at difficult times. This solidarity lies at the heart of our strategic partnership and the friendship between the French and Indian people," it added.