Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, who was given a red carpet welcome befitting a head of state in Hyderabad, on Thursday, announced that Andhra Pradesh would be the Gate(s)way to fight AIDS in the country, by taking up a pilot project on prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The world's richest man who has pledged all his wealth for charity, also promised additional grants and also to extend the ongoing $25 million vaccination programme in Andhra Pradesh beyond the original five years. Of the $ 400 million that he intends to spend in India, in the coming years, $100 million will be used for the improvement of the Microsoft Centre in Hyderabad.

Bill Gates who launched the second phase of the children's vaccination programme in six more districts, incorporating Hepatitis-B vaccine for the first time, at Shadnagar, about 45 km from Hyderabad, said the pilot project on HIV/AIDS could be developed in public-private partnership.

"The AIDS epidemic has become a matter of concern and we see an opportunity to tackle this in India with early steps. Everybody here is committed to support the cause," he said. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he said, was committed to support the initiative to counter its spread. The key thing was to educate and motivate people to change their behaviour and not to run the risk. The Foundation was backing research on developing a vaccine for AIDS. But even if things went right, it would be another 10 years before a vaccine to prevent AIDS arrived, he said.

At the Jubilee Hall where Bill Gates had a one-to-one meeting with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, the world's biggest philanthropist was greeted by an eight-foot condom made of rexine at a cost of Rs 9,000. It was put up near the flower-decked arch at the entrance of the Hall. Gates had a look at it with a broad smile. During the meeting, Naidu had explained to him how his slogan "Break the silence, talk about AIDS" was fast catching up with the people of the state. Gates lauded Naidu's personal commitment to spread the awareness message on AIDS.

Bill Gates also attended a Round Table at the Jubilee Hall to check out how the first phase of the Children's Vaccination Programme was implemented and to identify constraints. Senior state officials, Collectors of six districts where the CVP is on, representatives of the Gates Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry and three newspaper editors were among the 27 invitees for the Round Table. Gates was very happy that the first phase of the Partnership Programme was excellent. Hundreds and thousands of children benefited from it. This was just a beginning. Gates clarified that though his Foundation's commitment in health services was for the entire country, Andhra Pradesh would be the launching pad and a model to the entire country to show the best results of the immunization programme. "I am impressed with the success now and this is definitely a long-term relationship with AP," he said.

Asked at Shadnagar, why AP was chosen, Gates felt it was the best place to prove how effective immunization programme could be. "From the Chief Minister to the Collector, the doctors and finally the parents, everyone is involved and is doing good work."

After his Round Table address, he told press persons that the charity work is completely independent and has no connection with the software company. He and his wife had personally provided resources to the Foundation.

"My success in Microsoft is not related to this. I made a commitment 10 years ago to give back something to the society, may be after my 60th year. But the diseases won't wait that long and here I am." His wife Melinda would have accompanied him to India during the visit. But she has a baby just six weeks old and, therefore, she could not make the trip.