Team Herald
PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to accord its approval for the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by between the Goa government and the United Nation’s Children’s Fund for procurement of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to reduce infant mortality rate in the State.
Government intends to introduce the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in Goa with the State Budget with the dosage schedule as per the government of India’s recommendations of two primaries and one booster at 6 weeks, 14 weeks and 9 months.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the efforts are directed at reducing infant mortality and strengthening child health services.
The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) prices for its purchase of the vaccine is at lower than the available market price. This is achieved by forming liaison with the UNICEF, he said.
He said the requirement of this vaccine will be 55,400 doses/ annum (16500 live births in public health facilities) x 3 doses x 1.11 (wastage multiplying factor 10%) + 10 per cent buffer stock for the first month/ per annum.
The budget requirement in open market amounts to 55400 doses x Rs 3000 = Rs 16,62,00,000.
Through GAVI/ UNICEF support i.e 55,000 doses x Rs 220/- (vaccine cost per dose is Rs 200 + Rs 20 delivery charges to India airport) the cost of per dose of the vaccine = Rs 1,21,88,000.
At the entry point additional 15 per cent cost of custom duty will be levied, which brings the total cost to Rs 1,40,16,200 per annum per dose.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved a proposal for procurement of 2,228 sq mts land for construction of City Gate Station costing Rs 43 lakh in Madkai village by joint venture of GAIL Gas Ltd and BPCL, which is implementing piped gas project in the state.
The Cabinet also approved to lease out the premises of Directorate of Health Services of Old Block of Community Health Centre, Valpoi to Keshava Seva Sadhana, Ponda for temporary running the school for special Children at the rent of Rs 1200 per year, that is, Rs 100 per month for a period of 10 years.
The Council of Ministers also resolved to approve and change the nomenclature of Department of Environment to Department of Environment and Climate Change and accordingly asked the GAD department for effecting the necessary changes to the business of government of Goa (allocation) Rules, 1987.
