Port Louis, April 10 External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar hailed the inauguration of the first dedicated renal transplant unit in Mauritius as a "landmark achievement" on Friday, while assuring that the ongoing healthcare sector cooperation between the two nations is set to expand further.
In his address at the inauguration of the Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Mauritius on Friday, EAM Jaishankar highlighted the shared history of India and Mauritius, which he said continues to shape the relationship between both nations. He also conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's warm greetings to the people of Mauritius.
"Every visit here truly feels like coming to another home. There is something about this place that I must tell you – you never feel like a stranger. The warmth is real. You feel it in the smiles of the people, in the culture, and most of all, in the entire ethos of Mauritius. Now, many of you I know have ancestral ties with India, but what is truly inspiring to us is how these roots have grown into something uniquely Mauritian, because you have not just preserved what was brought here, but you have made it your own, and I think that is the real story of Mauritius. That shared history continues to shape our relationship, and every visit here, every interaction we have, adds one more layer, one more facet to that," said Jaishankar.
"That is why our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, says that Mauritius is not just a partner. Mauritius is part of our family. And before I left for this visit, he asked me to personally convey his warm greetings to each and every one of you, with the message that this is not just a diplomatic relationship, but a connection of the heart, one that is reflected not just in words, but also in meaningful action. Today is one such moment for action and for demonstrating purpose. The inauguration of Mauritius' first dedicated renal transplant unit is indeed a landmark achievement. It's not just a medical milestone. It's a moment of hope for patients suffering from kidney disease; this facility will truly be life-changing. It means that treatment can now happen closer to home, closer to family and friends. It means less anxiety. It means less financial burden. And it means greater comfort for families. And most importantly, it means a second chance for life for many," he added.
He said that each individual should have access to quality healthcare and termed the inauguration of the renal transplant unit as an "important step" in that direction. EAM Jaishankar called the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Mauritius a "living symbol" of long-standing cooperation between the two nations.
"Healthcare is at the core about dignity. It is about ensuring that every individual, regardless of circumstances, has access to quality healthcare. Today's inauguration is one important step in that direction... If something matters to Mauritius, it matters equally to India. That is the spirit of our friendship, especially in healthcare, where the impact is so personal, so immediate, and so deeply felt. And this partnership in healthcare is not new. This very institution, the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, has for decades stood at the heart of public healthcare in Mauritius, serving generations of families with dedication and care. It is a living symbol of our long-standing cooperation."
He recalled how India supported Mauritius during the Covid-19 pandemic by sending vaccines while managing the needs of its 1.4 million people.
"Many of you would also remember the ENT hospital, especially during the Covid. I remember that period well. I had an opportunity to come here. It was one of the most difficult moments that the world has faced in generations. Vaccines were scarce, supply chains were broken, every country was fighting its own battle. And yet, even as India was managing the needs of 1.4 billion people, we chose to share what we had with our family," EAM Jaishankar said.
"Mauritius was among the first countries to receive vaccines from India because that is what families actually do. In that spirit, we inaugurated the Medi Clinic at Grand Bois, the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, the area health center at New Grove, making quality health care more affordable and more accessible. And, during Prime Minister Modi's visit, the area healthcare center at Cap Malheureux added another link in that chain, reaching communities where the need is the greatest. Looking ahead, our cooperation in healthcare is set to expand further," he added.
EAM Jaishankar noted that healthcare holds a very special place in the special economic package announced during Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam's recent visit to India and mentioned that the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital and Ayush Center of Excellence, and a veterinary school and animal hospital "are all part of what lies ahead."