Bill Gates signs health projects with Bihar govt

PATNA, INDIA: Microsoft chief Bill Gates on Wednesday signed a memorandum on behalf of his foundation with the Bihar government to work on health projects to eradicate polio, kalaazar and tuberculosis from the state.

The memorandum was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and aims to help the state government execute projects in cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in select districts.

"The foundation's biggest focus is to improve health condition and we will work for it," Gates told reporters.

Gates said the foundation would also initiate measures to reduce maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate in Bihar.

"We have watched Bihar making improvement on the health front. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and I had conversation last July about it," Gates said.

State Health Secretary C.K. Mishra said the memorandum of cooperation was signed for five years.

Gates, accompanied by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation officials, arrived in Patna Wednesday morning and left for Gularia village in Khagaria and Tertariya village in Banka districts.

During his visit, Gates interacted with the villagers. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is working on health projects in both villages.