Bihar to sign MoU with Gates Foundation

A memorandum of understanding will soon be signed between the Bihar government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for executing a slew of health projects in selected districts of the state.

The Foundation had in principle agreed to commit about Rs 500-crore for the projects in a meeting on Wednesday between the state officials and a visiting Gates Foundation team,state Health department8217;s principal secretary C K Mishra said.

The 11-member foundation team,headed by Ashok Alexander,consented during the meeting to offer 8220;co-operation and finding8221; for the projects.

One of the major areas of the foundation8217;s focus would be projects on reproductive health and nutrition,but it is also interested in funding efforts to combat and control tuberculosis,kala-azar,pneumonia and polio.