SHILLONG, Sep 24: The Meghalaya government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance health, nutrition, and agricultural outcomes in the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, and senior officials from the state government and the BMGF were present during the signing of the MoU.
M Hari Menon, the Director of BMGF’s India operation and Sampath Kumar, the Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, represented their respective sides during the signing ceremony.
Meghalaya is the third state after Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to partner with the Gates Foundation in health and agriculture.
The partnership aims to implement efficient healthcare solutions in Meghalaya, contributing to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the health-related objectives for 2030. The four-year MoU outlines a range of activities aimed at improving healthcare delivery through regular monitoring and evaluation.
Under the agreement, the Gates Foundation will provide financial and technical support to improve outcomes in twelve key areas, including primary healthcare, maternal health, immunisation, nutrition, nursing education, digital health, and agriculture development.
Sangma, who attended the event virtually, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting its potential to improve the socio-economic conditions of mothers and women in the state. He stressed the need for strategic planning to address existing challenges and achieve meaningful change in citizens’ lives.
The partnership aims to reduce maternal, neonatal, and child mortality, improve access to family planning, and strengthen local institutions. It will also focus on developing innovative IT solutions, improving family planning options, enhancing nursing education, and building value chains in agriculture to support local farmers.
