Kyiv (Ukraine): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that PM Modi’s visit to Kyiv on Friday made history. Modi, on his part, to help Ukraine deliver quick emergency medical care and presented four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) Cubes.
“Today, history was made. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, made his first visit to Ukraine since our country’s independence on the eve of our Independence Day. Today, we reached an agreement on four documents between Ukraine and India, covering the medical field, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations, and culture,” said Zelensky after the end of diplomatic engagements with PM Modi.
“Following the visit, we also agreed on a joint statement focusing on the development of a strategic partnership, bilateral trade, and continued military-technical cooperation. India supports Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. And this is critical because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter,” Zelensky added in a post on X.
During his talks with Zelensky, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s principled position and commitment to a peaceful settlement of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. He also reiterated India’s readiness to contribute in “all possible ways” to facilitate the speedy return of peace in the region.
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“My visit to Ukraine was historic. I came to this great nation with the aim of deepening India-Ukraine friendship. I had productive talks with President Zelensky. India firmly believes that peace must always prevail. I thank the Government and people of Ukraine for their hospitality,” said PM Modi after the bilateral discussions in Kyiv.
Prime Minister Modi also thanked Zelensky and the Ukrainian authorities for the help and support they provided in the safe evacuation of Indian students from the warzone a few weeks after the conflict began in February 2022.
The Joint statement issued after the one-on-one and delegation-level talks mentioned that both leaders emphasised the need for “sincere and practical engagement” between all parties to develop innovative solutions that would be widely accepted and contribute to the speedy restoration of peace.
It also stated that both leaders had expressed mutual interest in upgrading bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future, a move that holds great promise for the India-Ukraine relationship.
The two sides recognised pharmaceutical cooperation as one of the strongest pillars of the partnership. The two leaders reaffirmed the desirability of greater market access and promoting investment and joint ventures through testing, inspection, and registration procedures.
“Both parties expressed their desire to expand cooperation in medicines and pharmaceuticals, particularly in education and exchange of best practices. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Service of Medicines and Drug Control of Ukraine and the Central Organization for the Control of Medicines Standards of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India,” the Joint Statement detailed.
What is BHISHM Cubes?
As the two leaders discussed enhancing India-Ukraine cooperation in sectors such as economy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and technology, PM Modi presented the indigenously developed BHISHM Cubes to President Zelensky. These cubes, which contain essential medicines and equipment, are designed to provide advanced medical care for emergency situations. With their advanced medical technology and comprehensive supplies, these cubes are expected to significantly improve emergency medical care in Ukraine, demonstrating India’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in times of crisis.
The Cube is a unique ‘Made in India’ mobile hospital for disaster management that can be airlifted. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), a team of experts from India has been deployed to provide initial training to the Ukrainian side on operating the Cube.
The Cube has the capacity to handle about 200 cases of diverse nature in emergency situations, such as trauma, bleeding, burns, and fractures.
“It can also generate its own power and oxygen in limited amounts,” said the MEA, adding that the gesture underscores India’s continued commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Last week, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army conducted the first-of-its-kind para drop of the indigenously made world’s first portable hospital at 15,000 feet elevation with the help of ‘Aarogya Maitri Health Cube,’ which is part of the BHISHM initiative.
Under the broad umbrella of Project Aarogya Maitri, the government created the BHISHM initiative. This initiative offers packing all the relevant medicines and equipment in cubical boxes (15 inches) in a well-organised manner and arranged according to the various types of injuries and medical issues that could be encountered in a war or natural disaster. These mini cubes are then positioned on a framework that is adjustable and strong and permits multi-mode transport (by air, sea, land, and drone), ensuring practical and efficient deployment in emergency situations.
In fact, the mini cubes can be carried by a person (max weight of 20 kg).
About 36 of these mini cubes form a mother cube, and two such mother cubes combine to form a BHISHM Cube.
One mother cube has the medicines and equipment for first-line care of all kinds of injuries and emergency medical situations, apart from shelter and food for a crew of five for 48 hours. The other mother cube has surgical equipment and can establish a basic operating room that can manage 10-15 basic surgeries per day. The BHISHM app and a digital tablet provide access to the required know-how through instructional videos. The tablet currently supports about 180 languages.
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–IANS
