New Delhi. Reputable global NGO Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has described the Covid management of Uttar Pradesh as an example for the world. On Thursday, the delegation of BMGF met CM Yogi Adityanath at the Chief Minister’s residence and discussed with the Uttar Pradesh government to further enhance technical cooperation in the fields of health, nutrition and agriculture. Speaking on the occasion, Marks Suzman, CEO of BMGF, said that he works in many countries. Have seen the covid management of all the countries and it would be fair to say that the covid management of India especially Uttar Pradesh was far better than the covid management of America. The way in which the leadership of UP faced the dense population density and various social challenges is commendable. During talks with the Chief Minister, the delegation expressed its willingness to work closely with the government for the betterment of the agriculture sector and self-help groups in Uttar Pradesh.
Commendable contribution of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
On this occasion, CM Yogi said that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made commendable contribution in the field of health and nutrition. BMGF always gets cooperation in making various schemes of the state government reach the public and make them effective. In recent years, technical support is also being received from BLGF in the agriculture sector. The recent NFHS-5 results show that Uttar Pradesh has shown phenomenal improvement in the field of health and nutrition. On many parameters, our performance is better than the national average. In this work also we have got the support of BMGF. Not only this, the support of the foundation has been received in Uttar Pradesh during COVID. Be it providing testing kits, or setting up dedicated COVID hospitals in Noida, Gonda and Prayagraj, there is constructive support from BMGF all the time. We are grateful to the Foundation for this. The Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh has achieved remarkable success in the field of health and nutrition in recent years. Deaths from diseases like encephalitis, which have been caused by prematurity in children since 40 years, have been controlled by 95%. However, in the field of health security, much remains to be done in Uttar Pradesh. He told that we are setting up one district one medical college on the lines of one district one product scheme. This will make the availability of doctors sufficient, but availability of skilled nursing/paramedics is a big challenge for us. The Foundation can support us in creating qualified, and skilled, professional nursing staff, paramedics. It should be extended to the digital platform.
There is immense potential for development in agriculture: Chief Minister
Giving priority to the development of the agriculture sector, the CM said that there is immense potential for development here. Uttar Pradesh has been gifted by nature in the form of abundant water resources and fertile land. In the last five years, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government has encouraged technological inclusion, agricultural diversification in the agriculture sector. Our agricultural universities are resource-rich. Krishi Vigyan Kendras have been established. In such a situation, BMGF’s global experience will be useful for us to connect, train farmers with technology and for various research works, innovations in the agriculture sector. He said that we have received good cooperation from global organizations like UNICEF, WHO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and PATH in the field of public health including various water borne diseases including encephalitis, covid management. Such efforts will be continued in future also with mutual cooperation. Referring to the activities of Self Help Groups in the State, the Chief Minister said that BLGF can cooperate with the State Government in further strengthening the Self Help Groups. BMGF’s global hands-on experience and technical know-how will help us in making SHGs more effective. The delegation included Marks Suzman, CEO of BMGF and other dignitaries including Country Director