Bill Gates praises Bihar govt for efforts to fight poverty, disease

Bill Gates, billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, on Sunday praised Bihar government's progress in fighting poverty and disease in last 20 years, saying only few places have been able to surpass achievements me by state. co-chair and trustee of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who is on a visit to Bihar, said this at a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar here.

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"Over past 20 years, few places have me more progress against poverty and disease than Bihar. Compared to her mor born two deces ago, a child born today in Bihar is twice more likely to reach her fifth birthday," a press release quoted Bill Gates as saying.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was committted to working with state government to ensure health and education for all children, release said. state government also anunced its commitment for continued partnership with foundation to find solutions to state's critical health and development goals.

"w, we have to make sure that all children are able to grow up healthy and get a good education. And our foundation remains committed to working with state government to make that happen," release said. Commenting on interaction, Kumar expressed happiness with collaboration as it would help improve public health services.

"We are pleased with our collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to improve public health services, community level behaviour change, scaling up invation across health, nutrition and agriculture. "Bihar is keen to continue partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to furr strengn sustainable systems across departments like health, social welfare, agriculture, empowerment of women and rural development," chief minister said.

discussion also focused on giving priorities to structural reforms in health sector with a need to strengn primary health care by building a robust, resilient and responsive health system in Bihar, release said. Elaborating on "impressive" progress me by Bihar, release mentioned decisive actions towards reforming state health system through creation of a Public Health Manment Cre for delivering good quality clinical care and bringing more ministrative and manment capacity into public health.

Gates was apprised of chief minister's flagship programme "Jal-Jivan-Hariyali", an inter-departmental effort to combat effects of climate change. chief minister was accompanied by his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, health minister Mangal Pandey and key officials during meeting. 

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