Gates lauds Indian health ministry for controlling polio, HIV

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) Appreciating the efforts of the
Indian Government in containing polio and HIV, software czar
and philanthropist Bill Gates on Tuesday discussed issues
relating to immunisation and pentavalent vaccine production
with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here.
Gates and his wife Melinda called on Azad and discussed
matters relating to the immunization programme, pentavalent
vaccine, polio vaccination efforts, HIV control and capacity
building, senior officials said.
The Microsoft founder appreciated the efforts made by the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in containing polio and
HIV cases and noted that intensification of efforts for
eradicating polio were evident from the 2010 figures.
He also offered his Foundation's help in comprehensive
family planning services to the Ministry.
Azad thanked the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for
extending help in bringing about innovations in health,
development and learning to the Indian community and urged
Gates to continue their support for the fourth phase of the
National AIDS Control Programme so that the momentum of the
Programme is maintained.
The Gates couple will also go to Bihar and visit
community health workers and state officials to see first-hand
the launch of a five-year USD 80 million grant made in
partnership with the state government and leading Indian and
international non-government organisations.
On March 24, Gates will join Azad, Minister of Human
Resources and Development Kapil Sibal and Minister of Science
and Technology P K Bansal to mark World Tuberculosis Day.
Last year, there were two million new TB cases in India.