UP To Sign Agreement with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The release said Yadav suggested that the state should be supported in terms of technical knowledge in its efforts in tackling health related challenges by experimenting with new and innovative methods for effective behavior changes, delivery of services and organization and management of health systems, including telemedicine and capacity building of grassroots level health workers instead of providing monetary funding to the state.

The UP chief minister said the time has come for the foundation to consider a comprehensive and long term programme which addresses the maternal and child health issues in the state in a holistic manner.

The release said Gates assured him of full support by the foundation to develop innovative solution and to provide catalytic, technical, managerial and advocacy support to the government.

He also indicated foundation's keen interest to develop partnerships in some of the priority areas like maternal and neonatal health, nutrition, child health, particularly routine immunization coverage, introduction of new life saving vaccines and the consolidation of the gains against polio, family planning through increasing access to and uptake of modern contraceptives.

Gates also offered the state government to work in field of agriculture and also developing financial services for the poor by expanding digital payment systems into poor and rural communities, and connecting those payments to enhanced savings, credit and insurance services.