Melinda Gates Meets Yogi, Discusses Collaborations For Health, Nutrition And Agri In UP

The co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Melinda Gates paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence in Lucknow on Wednesday. On arrival in Uttar Pradesh, the state’s Chief Minister greeted Melinda Gates and her colleagues. In a special meeting, Melinda Gates discussed ways to further work in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government to enhance technical cooperation in the health, nutrition and agriculture sectors.

Praising UP’s efforts in controlling Covid and Japanese Encephalitis, Milinda Gates said that the work done by Uttar Pradesh in recent years for Covid management and control of JE is an exemplary model. The biggest challenge during Covid times was the population of the state, but UP has efficiently managed it, Gates remarked. 

“The world should learn from the way vaccination drive was conducted for such a large population like UP,” Gates said, She added that the efforts of Uttar Pradesh in the areas of health security, financial inclusion, nutrition, education, women empowerment etc. are inspiring. Uttar Pradesh is a model not only for India but for the whole world.

Referring to the relationship of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) with Uttar Pradesh, Melinda Gates said that BMGF has been working here since a long time in the field of health and social security. “It is a matter of happiness for us that we are able to provide facilities to the weakest and last person of the society. We intend to further improve our relations with UP in the coming times,” She said. Melinda Gates also appreciated the digital banking system effectively implemented in UP.

Milinda Gates said that there are immense possibilities of development in Uttar Pradesh. The work done for the betterment of infrastructure in the past years is unprecedented. 

The CM Yogi Adityanath too appreciated the support being provided by BMGF. Yogi said that he has closely seen the works of BMGF. BMGF has made a commendable contribution in the field of health and nutrition. UP has received logistics and technical support from the Foundation amidst the challenges of Covid and the state government is grateful for this support. 

The Chief Minister further said that Uttar Pradesh has achieved satisfactory success in the field of health and nutrition in recent years. The death of innocent children due to diseases like encephalitis has been controlled up to 95%. Along with this, BMGF has cooperated with the state government for effective control of communicable diseases like Chikungunya and Kala-azar.

The Chief Minister said that a lot remains to be done in Uttar Pradesh in the field of health security. “The major challenge we have is the availability of skilled nursing/paramedics. In this regard, a software has been developed in the state under Mission Niramaya, which has become a good model for training and skill development of nursing paramedical staff,” said the CM. The Foundation can cooperate with us to produce qualified, and skilled, Professional Nursing Staff, Paramedics, he added. 

Overwhelmed by the efforts of women empowerment in Uttar Pradesh, Melinda Gates praised the policies of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. She said that due to the efforts of Chief Minister Yogi, the confidence of women will increase and leadership potential will be developed in them.

The Chief Minister also invited Melinda Gates and her colleagues to participate in the proposed Global Investors Summit from 10 to 12 February 2023.