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V. Rishi Kumar

Mr Bill Gates talks with Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, at the Community Health Centre in Shadnagar on Thursday.

SHADNAGAR (A.P), Nov. 14

FROM Seattle to Shadnagar, the technology man — Mr Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, has come a long way on a mission with a difference — that is of empowering the rural healthcare system by supporting a major vaccination programme through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

He had a first-hand experience of the rural healthcare system at the Community Healthcare Centre in Shadnagar, located about 50 km from Hyderabad, interacted with doctors, nurses and took part in the Hepatitis-B vaccination programme.

While stating his continued support to the healthcare sector in the country, Mr Gates launched the second phase of the vaccination project on Thursday in the State. The project aims to cover 1.6 million children each year.

Accompanied by the Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and his Foundation team members, Mr Gates flew to the venue in a helicopter and spent nearly an hour with the hospital staff and then spoke to the media about his four-day visit to India and his efforts to support the healthcare system.

"We had a great four days in India talking with people across sections. The AIDS epidemic has become a matter of serious concern and we see an opportunity to tackle this in India with early steps. Everybody here is committed to support the cause," he said.

"I am thrilled to meet doctors, nurses and experience the healthcare system. We are keen to support research in India and reach out various services aimed at making a difference. With programmes such as PATH (Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health) we re-dedicate ourselves. We are impressed with the commitment shown by the State Government, its Chief Minister and the doctors. This will bring in a fantastic impact. Some of the funds are being extended to local companies through the foundation, to help them become world class. The object is to fund more scientific research."

With regard to some NGOs alleging that the Hepatitis-B vaccine is unsafe, Mr Gates said that the vaccine was safe and was administered in the US and in about 150 countries. "Now we want to ensure that more people benefit from the vaccine as this is all about saving lives," he said.

In the case of HIV/AIDS, the Foundation is committed to support the initiative to counter the spread. "It will be about 10 years by the time we find the right solution for it. In the partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Government, we have committed $ 25 million and this is a long-term project. The State has committed to take this initiative forward after five years," he said.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have committed over $ 1.2 billion to support the prevention and control of infectious diseases. These grants are for building coalitions with various agencies to guarantee that all children have access to vaccines and new research initiatives towards this effort are funded. The Children's Vaccine Programme strengthens immunisation services and combines the State Government effort to reach out healthcare. This project has been taken up as a pilot so that it can serve as a model for rest of the country, Mr Naidu said.

Thanking Mr Gates for visiting the State and the rural dispensary and supporting the healthcare project, Mr Naidu said that the model of public private partnership initiative has been successful. "We plan to replicate this in the entire State," he said.

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