Bill Gates meets Jaitley in Delhi

Bill Gates, Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Bill Gates attended the inauguration ceremony of the Indian Newborn Action Plan (INAP) by Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

Speaking on the occasion, Bill Gates wholesomely praised Dr. Vardhan for his pioneering work in polio eradication.

"There are lessons to be learnt from India's fight against polio which may be applied against other diseases also," he pointed out.

He lauded the government for expanding the list of diseases under the Universal Immunisation Programme. He also highlighted the importance of including the Rotavirus vaccine in the package.

Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Foundation, who was also present on the occasion, said that India by launching INAP has shown leadership in addressing newborn and maternal mortality.

She commended the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and auxiliary nurse midwives for their roles in mother and child care in the rural areas.

"Healthy mothers and healthy children are crucial for India to realise the demographic dividend," she added.