Harsh Vardhan writes to Bill Gates, lauds support for anti-polio drive

NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Harsh Vardhan who, as a minister in the 90s, had initiated the pulse polio programme in the city, today thanked Microsoft founder Bill Gates for his support to the anti-polio campaign.

In a letter to Gates, Vardhan appreciated his lavish praise of India's 'Pulse Polio Programme' and said, "when we started our fight against polio, we were repeatedly told we were aiming for the impossible".

Gates had recently written in an article that, "India's success offers a script for winning some of the world's most difficult battles in the area of human welfare."

The pulse polio programme was conceived and initiated in the national capital by Vardhan during his tenure as Health Minister in the BJP government, between 1993 and 1998.

Vardhan further said that India's success in immunising around 170 million children on a single day as part of special national immunisation drives was a testament to the will and commitment of its people.

"We are proud that India has not reported a single case of polio in the last three years," he said in his letter.

He also lauded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its crucial support to the programme.

"As World Health Organisation prepares to declare India polio-free in the next few months, I want to place on record my appreciation for the immense support extended by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards our efforts," Vardhan said in his letter.