World Health organization is a specialized agency of United
Nations established in 1948. WHO’s objective
is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.
WHO’s
objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of
health.
WHO
collaborates with member governments, United Nations agencies and other bodies
to develop health standards.
Control communicable diseases and promote all aspects of family and environmental health.
Purpose:
WHO regulations were adopted and came into force in 1959, as international
sanitary regulation which later
renamed in International health regulation in 1969.
Its purpose is to ensure the
maximum security against the international spread of diseases with
minimum interference with world traffic.
Maritime declaration of health.
At every port of call master
of ship has to give a declaration of health to authorized offices which states
1.
Particulars of ship
2.
Ships crew and officers are fit
for service on board
3.
During the voyage any case of
suspected case of plaque cholera or yellow fever.
4.
Any illness of infectious
nature, death of any person on board during the voyage otherwise than as a
result of accident.
5.
Ship is free from rodents and
deratting certificate or exemption is valid.
International Health
regulations were originally intended to help monitor and control six serious infectious
diseases: cholera, plague, yellow fever smallpox, relapsing fever and typhus.
Today only cholera plague and
yellow fever are notifiable diseases.
Article 81 of IHR states that
“No health document other than those provided for in these regulations shall be
required in internal traffic”.
Separate vaccination certificates were
once required for small pox, cholera and yellow fever. The eradication of small
pox was confirmed by WHO more than 10 years ago. It also states that
vaccination against cholera cannot prevent the introduction of infection into a
country and the WHO therefore amended the international health regulations in 1973
so that cholera vaccination should no longer be required of any traveller. A
certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is the only certificate which
should be now required.
In case of Engine room personnel
suffering from a contagious disease while on voyage.
1.
He should be examined by ships
designated medical officer
2.
After confirmation, master
should be informed and the patient should be shifted to hospital
3.
Ensure that Air from the
hospital is not recirculated in the ships A/C system
4.
Having listed all symptoms and
findings relevant section of (shipmaster’s medical guide) to be consulted and
recommended treatments to be followed
5.
When patient is ill visitors
should be discourages when the patient shows signs of improvement the above ban
can be relaxed.
6.
willing shipboard personnel
must be deputed after taking all possible precautions to attend the patient and
monitor his progress
7.
Disposable utensils for
drinking, eating must be used.
8.
all used bed linens and towels
must be sterilized and should not be washed with the common linen
9.
If the conditions of patient
does not improve, radio medical advice should be sought
10. All actions to be recorded in medical log book and company should be
informed for each happening
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