Kathmandu, April 25 -- India has handed over the first consignment of vaccines for the management of sickle cell disease and thalassemia to the government.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava handed over the vaccines to Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel at a ceremony in Kathmandu.

The consignment includes influenza vaccines (3,100 units), salmonella vaccines (1,550 units), meningococcus vaccines (3,100 units), haemophilus influenza vaccines (4,640 units), and streptococcus pneumonia vaccines (4,640 units).

According to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the government of India is providing medicines and vaccines worth $2 million in response to a request from the government of Nepal.

Receiving the consignment, Min...