Bill Gates, Akhilesh Yadav to Discuss Healthcare in UP

American business magnate and Microsoft founder Bill Gates is set to meet the youngest Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, to discuss about the healthcare system in the state.

The 56-year-old is expected to discuss a host of healthcare programmes that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation plans to adopt in the state. The foundation is already funding a few mother and child health and nutrition programmes in India. 

Last week, UP government officials met an advance team from Gate's office and did the ground work for the Gates-Akhilesh meeting. The meeting was under the leadership of Chief Secretary, Jawed Usmani and was attended by four members of Gates foundation and various representatives from Health department, Mother and Child Care, Rural Development and Agriculture.

On Wednesday, Gates is expected to present a five-point programme to improve healthcare in UP in various sectors like neo-natal care, maternity, nutrition, family planning and child health, Indo-Asian News Service reported.

He is also interested in taking up various drives like polio eradication and other vaccinations, which are deprived in the state.

In the preparatory meeting which happened on May 24, Lucknow Municipal Corporations officials have decided to finalize a slum where Gates could be taken for an inspection.

In the meeting the government officials and Gates Foundation members presented their area of expertise and programmes.  

"The members of the foundation were told about the weak areas where they could work and were asked to decide how and in which sectors they want to work," Indian Express quoted Sada Kant, Principal Secretary, Woman and Child Development as saying.