Reinforcing its commitment to the Global South, India has dispatched 300,000 doses of measles and rubella vaccines along with supporting medical supplies to Bolivia, currently battling a growing measles outbreak.

The Bolivian government had declared a National Health Emergency last month after a spike in measles cases. As of July 14, Bolivia reported 119 confirmed infections, with 98 of them in the Santa Cruz region. Other affected areas include La Paz (10), Potosi (4), Beni (3), Chuquisaca (2), and one case each in Oruro and Pando.

“India dispatched a consignment of 300,000 doses of Measles and Rubella vaccines along with ancillary supplies to support Bolivia in managing the outbreak. India stands by its friends in the Global South,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) posted on X.

This humanitarian aid comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Bolivian President Luis Arce on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Brazil earlier this month. The two leaders discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in sectors such as critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, trade, UPI and digital infrastructure, traditional medicine, and capacity building.

India and Bolivia share friendly diplomatic ties and have been working to deepen their engagement in areas like health, infrastructure, and technology. India has previously extended medical assistance to Bolivia, including a shipment of 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines and protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020.

The MEA emphasized that such efforts reflect India’s broader commitment to development cooperation, particularly through initiatives like the ITEC scholarship programme and Quick Impact Projects.