Sunday, March 27, 2011

Bill talks of vaccines & sterilization in same breath.

Bill talks of vaccines & sterilization in same breath.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/I-am-a-believer-in-power-of-vaccines-Bill-Gates/articleshow/7783993.cms
 NEW DELHI: "The anti-vaccine lobby in India is strong. But it is outrageous. India hasn't added a single new vaccine since 1985," billionaire-philanthropist Bill Gates told TOI in an interview. 

"I am a great believer in the power of vaccines. Thankfully, there is progress taking place in India now. The Union health ministry is planning to introduce the Hepatitis B vaccine, the second dose of measles vaccine and the pentavalent vaccine in two states. That for me is a glass half full," Gates said. 

He sees little difference between his entrepreneurial instincts and philanthropy. 

"During my Microsoft career, I used to talk about the magic of software. Now, I spend my time talking about the magic of vaccines. Vaccines are the most effective and cost-effective health tool ever invented. Just a few dose of vaccine can protect a child from debilitating and deadly diseases for a lifetime. And most vaccines are extremely inexpensive," he explained. 

When it comes to family planning programmes, what surprises Gates most is that while sterilization is controversial in most countries, it is well accepted in India. On the other hand, injectible contraceptives are a taboo in India. 

So, how different is making money and giving it away in charity? "Giving and making money are a lot similar. My Microsoft experience taught me well for the Foundation work. In MS, we would get smart people and address tough problems, some of which we thought we could never solve. We would work for five-10 years to find an answer," Gates said, who is on a four-day visit to India. On Thursday, he visited LRS Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases.

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