MARINESHELF RECENT

MARINESHELF

Monday, October 8, 2012

MARITIME DECLARATION OF HEALTH AND WHO


      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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