New Delhi, July 24 - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who met Bill Gates here, Friday praised him and his foundation for helping India curb the spread of AIDS.

According to a health ministry statement, Azad appreciated the work being done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its continued support to the National AIDS Control Programme through their initiative called 'AVAHAN' and supporting the national polio immunisation programme.

Gates also met senior health ministry bureaucrats and discussed their shared commitment to promote various health activities in India.

Azad reiterated the government's commitment to meet the millennium development goals related to child and maternal mortality, an area of concern for India.

According to health ministry statistics, 57 children of every 1,000 live births are dying before reaching the age of five.