Patna. On Wednesday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the state government for improving health infrastructure in Bihar. The MOC is aimed at supporting government’s initiatives in reducing maternal and infant mortality rate, malnutrition, preventing TB and Kala-azar and expanding mandatory primary health services for pregnant women and children.
Chairman of the foundation Bill Gates, present on the occasion with chief minister Nitish Kumar, said that foundation had given biggest focus to Bihar and had been making efforts to see that best health practices were being used for the purpose. He termed the MoC as milestone in improving health scenario in Bihar.
He, however, also said that despite the fact that incredible improvement had been made in vaccinating children, lot was yet to be done. ‘But, I am very excited for the reason that, literally, lives of one lakh children will be saved with this effort. We have also prepared the system to increase number of vaccines for the purpose,’ he said on his maiden visit to Bihar and expressed hope that he would keep coming here.
Earlier in the day, he visited a village in the Alauli block of Khagaria district in Kosi region and a tribal village in Banka district to monitor the ongoing polio immunization programme. Looking satisfied with the programme, he applauded endeavor of the state government. ‘I am impressed with the way immunization programmes are being implemented and I also saw women self help groups working there in the region,’ he said.
According to MoC, the Foundation will technically facilitate the state government with the help of NGOs and other partners on the plan basis. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the foundation would intervene in eight districts – Patna, Begusarai, Saharasa, Samastipur, Khagaria, East and West Champaran and Gopalganj – and would financially assist grantees for the programme.