Photographs: Krishna Murari Kishan/Reuters.
The Microsoft founder has offered $110 million for introducing five-in-one vaccine in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, according to a Times of India report. Bill Gates favours introducing the pentavalent vaccine across five states.
The foundation has invested more than $1.2 billion in projects aimed at improving public health and development outcomes in India, since 2003.. . .
What Bill Gates plans to do in India
Image: Gates (front 2nd L) sits in a boat as he crosses river Kosi in Bihar.Photographs: Reuters.
Lamenting on the tardy progress in the healthcare sector, Gates said, "We are proud to partner with India because its innovative approaches are saving and improving lives every day. Yet, despite remarkable achievements, India endures some of the greatest health and development burdens in the world.
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What Bill Gates plans to do in India
Image: Bill Gates interacts with a villager in Aulali village, Bihar.Photographs: Reuters.
Gates also will visit The Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), which aims to help millions of Indian farmers substantially boost crop yields and their incomes within 10 years.
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What Bill Gates plans to do in India
Image: File picture of Bill Gates speaking at a symposium on Research and Innovation.Photographs: Fayaz Kabli/Reuters.
"I believe there is an excellent chance India will be polio free very soon," said Bill Gates.
Concern remains about the outbreak in West Bengal that has persisted for more than 12 months.
"If there is polio anywhere, we are at risk of polio everywhere," Gates said. "We encourage India to continue fully funding its own polio program to stop transmission once and for all.". . .
What Bill Gates plans to do in India
Image: File picture of Bill Gates (R) speaking with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Photographs: B Mathur/Reuters.
Another priority will be to urge the government of India to intensify progress on vaccinating its children. Last year, Gates had called on the global community to help make this the Decade of Vaccines.
"Increasing routine childhood immunisations is critical to improving the health of children in India," said Melinda Gates.
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