Melinda Gates calls on Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow, Jan 23 (IANS) Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Wednesday called on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and discussed the progress on the recently signed memorandum of cooperation signed between the state government and the foundation.

Under the memorandum, the foundation is to provide support through NGO and other public and private sector partners in the areas of reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health, nutrition and vaccine-preventable and other infectious diseases.

Other areas of support include improving agricultural productivity and expanding financial services for the poor.

Yadav appreciated the support provided by the BMGF.

“Under the emergency medical transport service (EMTS), which was launched last year, 779 ambulances are functional,” he said.

Gates said the foundation was excited to partner with the state government and assured the chief minister that they were “committed partners on its journey to sustained development”.

IANS 2013-01-23 23:12:02