India gifts Seychelles four vans |08 July 2023
Drug addiction reduction
programme gets big boost
By Vidya Gappy
India has gifted Seychelles four vans which are expected to be instrumental in the drug addiction reduction programme of the government of Seychelles.
The vans, gifted by India to Seychelles under a grant of US $194,000, were formally handed over yesterday by Puneet Agrawal, joint secretary, Indian Ocean Region, Ministry of External Affairs of India to the Seychelles Minister for Health Peggy Vidot.
Among guests present at the ceremony were the high commissioner of India to Seychelles, Kartik Pande; Dr Bernard Valentin, principal secretary (PS) for health; Dr Danny Louange, chief executive of the Health Care Agency.
The joint secretary is on a two-day official visit to Seychelles.
In his remarks at the ceremony held near the Seychelles Hospital, Mont Fleuri, HC Pande said that this marks an important moment in the robust relationship shared by India and Seychelles in the health sector.
“Our cooperation in the tough times of the Covid pandemic and even after it has been unflinching and consistent,” he said. “This gift of vans will assist any mitigation measures of the government of Seychelles.
Minister Vidot thanked the government of India for such generous assistance in the fight against drugs in Seychelles.
The vans are manufactured by TATA Motors and will facilitate the methadone programme of the government of Seychelles – thus making the fight against substance abuse stronger.
The vans were delivered in February this year and all necessary approvals, tests and functional clearances were completed accordingly in order for the Ministry of Health to integrate them in its fleet and start using them.
Photos: Joena Meme
