Seafarers: The Leading Carriers of HIV?

Seafaring is, perhaps, the most active job as it requires the most vigorous individuals. Thus, seafarers are by
far the most highly mobile workers who are mainly composed of men in their sexually active years.

Most seafarers spend 2-5 years away from home and their loved ones. This expanse time, more often than not, induces sexually precarious conduct among seamen.

In a study made by UNICEF and UNAIDS (agencies under the United Nations), an estimated 22% of seafarers in Southeast Asia are supposedly infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.In the Philippines it was noted by the health department’s HIV/AIDS Registry that 20% of the reported HIV infections are composed of seafarers most of whom contracted the disease through sexual intercourse.

In a survey conducted by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) maritime affiliates on HIV/AIDS, health and wellbeing where 34 trade unions and 608 seafarers were quizzed, it was found out that most seafarers still believed in myths regarding the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

The survey showed that only 17% of respondents trusted the efficiency of condoms in preventing the disease; while 46% believed it can be spread through food and drinks.

The ITF HIV/AIDS Program coordinator Dr. Asif Altaf stated that since Filipino seafarers compose a third of the world’s maritime industry, the program’s success in the Philippines will definitely have a global effect.

Causes and Effects

Long term estrangement from loved ones is, perhaps, the leading cause of HIV. Physical distance usually leads seafarers to commit radical actions, mainly sexual ones. This is readily accommodated by the easily-accessible commercial sex from every port in world.

Ironically, condoms are frequently unavailable in areas where there is a noted prevalence of HIV cases.

In most ports, sexual workers generally do not undergo health screenings.

If it happened that a seafarer is in need of medical attention in another country, more often than not, the danger from possibly HIV infected syringes and needle is imminent.

It is important to note that the disease cannot be transmitted through social contact. Only through sexual intercourse and exposure to blood and breast milk will the disease be transmitted.

Transmission through kissing and oral sex is also not possible according to prior studies.

There has also been no laboratory evidence that present the capability of insects to pass on the disease.

The infection usually results in the continuous deterioration of the immune system as well as other organ systems of the body.

In some cases, the clinical signs of HIV do not manifest for months or even years.

Help and Acceptance

In October of this year, the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation – a noted manning agency in the country which provides employment to 40,000 seafarers – partnered with ITF in promoting awareness and providing employment for HIV positive Filipino mariners.

Other maritime associations all over the globe have also started cooperating with the ITF in the awareness and prevention of the disease. These associations have started conducting awareness campaigns, seminars and programs for both cadets, seafarers and their families.

Some of the aforementioned global associations are as follows: The Asociación Sindical Oficiales de Máquinas de la Marina Mercante Nacional of Mexico; the Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia; the Norwegian seafarers’ Union; the youth committee of the National Union of Seafarers of India; and the Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union of Ukraine

A comic book was also produced in the Philippines which tackles the factors of HIV susceptibility while at sea and how HIV positive mariners can confidently struggle with work. The said comic book is entitled “Shore Leave” by the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines.

Other Diseases Acquired Through Sexual Contact

Chancroid

Chlamydia

Crabs

Gonorrhoea

Hepatitis

Herpes

Human Papillomavirus/Genital Warts or HPV

Molluscum Contagiosum

Nongonococcal

Urethritis (NGU)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID

Scabies

Syphilis

Vaginitis

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Seafarers: The Leading Carriers of HIV?

Blogger Saturday, April 09, 2016

Diseases That Make Life On Sea Difficult For Seafarers

Life on sea is difficult for seafarers as they are separated from the comforts of a life lived on land, a life constantly enveloped in the care and affection of their loved ones. Life on sea is, indeed, hard even without factors that jeopardize the comfort and well-being of these heroes – factors like diseases and infections due to the nature of their work.

 It is, no doubt, helpful for seafarers to be aware of the diseases that are lurking in every corner of the sea. As they say, prevention is always better than the cure. The following are some of the diseases and infections that most seafarers acquire during their journey.

Hypertension. Due to excessive stress, homesickness, smoking, lack of exercise or workout, over consumption of alcohol and fatigue, hypertension is one of the major danger seafarers get working on board. Seafarers should also remember that hypertension can lead to renal failure and stroke. Good eating habits, engaging in physical activities and healthy lifestyle can help prevent hypertension.

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or HAVS.  Some seafarers operate equipment that cause this syndrome, like needle guns and grinders. Prolonged exposure to power tools with the lack of proper usage and limits of use may result to HAVS, which will lead to permanent disability if not detected and treated early. Tingling of fingers, numbness and pain in the arm and wrist are some of the common symptoms of HAVS.

Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases. Since seafarers docked on many different ports around the world on the course of their journey, they are vulnerable to common diseases like cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, yellow fever and others. Despite having shots for vaccine, sudden outbreak of new diseases will make seafarers susceptible.

Cardio-Vascular Disease or CVD. High-stress levels are common cause of cardio-vascular diseases, commonly found in seafaring community. Together with factors like genes, age, unhealthy lifestyle, added with the condition on board that contributes to stress like multi-tasking and lack of exercise, any seafarer is prone to CVD.

Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). Unsafe sexual activities of seafarers make them a victim of fatal diseases like HIV/AIDS, and gonorrhea or syphilis. Seafarers should be aware of STDs so they can practice self-discipline and control to minimize the and prevent the risk of transmission, which can give a big impact both on their professional and personal life.

Musculoskeletal Disorder or MSD. MSD are injuries or pain on our body’s joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons and structures that supports our limbs, neck and back. Seafarers acquire MSD because of sudden lifting of heavy object and from making repetitive action. Exercise and stretching can prevent MSD among seafarers, as most of them do straight 12 hours duty onboard.

Cancer. Seafarers with various cases of cancers have increased in numbers, most of them with lung cancer, renal cancer, leukemia and lymphoma. Continuous exposure to UV radiation, toxic substances, and smoking among others make seafarers

unsafe. Seafarers working on oil, chemical and product tankers are also likely to develop various types of cancer, brain cancer and leukemia at the most.

Seafarers and aspiring seamen need not be afraid of these diseases and infections, however. With proper exercise, a healthy lifestyle and a well-balanced diet, these complications will be far from being acquired. Life will be as easy and comfortable on sea as it is on land.

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Diseases That Make Life On Sea Difficult For Seafarers

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Sinibak sa trabaho, seaman nagbigti

Sa ulat ni P03 Alonzo Layugan ng Manila Police District-Homicide Section, alas-3:10 ng hapon ng (Dis. 5) nang madiskubre na nakabigti sa water hose na kulay green sa ilalim ng fire exit ng gusali ng Status Maritime Corporation ang biktima.

MANILA, Philippines – Tila dinamdam ng isang seaman ng isang international shipping lines ang pagkakatang­gal o pagpapabalik sa kanya sa Pilipinas nang magbigti ito kama­kalawa ng hapon sa Maynila.

Kinilala ang biktimang si John Gregg Elejan, 31, binata, oiler crew at tubong Guimaras, Iloilo City at pansamantalang nanuluyan sa Status maritime Corporation na matatagpuan sa no.1802  San Marcelino, panulukan ng J. Nakpil St.,  Malate, Maynila.

Sa ulat ni P03 Alonzo Layugan ng Manila Police District-Homicide Section, alas-3:10 ng hapon ng (Dis. 5) nang madiskubre na nakabigti sa water hose na kulay green sa ilalim ng fire exit ng gusali ng Status Maritime Corporation ang biktima.

Sinabi ng maritime cadet na si Rex Barcebal, 24 at Michael Bugna, security guard ng building, na nagulat sila nang makitang nakabitin ang biktima kaya pinagtulu-ngang alisin at isinaila-lim sa cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Nagkaroon umano ito ng mahinang pulso kaya isinugod sa Philip­pine General Hospital (PGH) idineklarang dead-on-arrival alas 3:45 ng hapon.

Batay naman sa do­­­kumentong nakuha ka­­­ugnay sa biktima, siya ay sinibak sa pagiging oiler ng barko dahil sa pagkakaroon ng “bad beha-vior, bad performance, not following instruc-tions at negligence of duties and responsibilities tulad ng pag-abandona sa engine  room ng walang inabisuhang crew at ang pagsasalita umano nito na may papatayin siya.

Nakasaad din sa nilagdaang dokumento ni Capt. Ricardo Acedo na dahil sa mga paglabag at mga warning laban sa biktima ay uuwi ito sa bansa kahit hindi pa tapos ang kontrata at siya mismo ang babalikat ng gastusin dahil sa hindi natapos na kontrata.

Sinabi pa umano ng biktima  na hindi na siya makapag-concentrate sa trabaho.

“Hindi lang yung pag-kaka-repatriate ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagbigti, ayon sa agency kasi  balisa siya tapos yung ikinikilos niya na kakaiba at nagsasalita pa raw na may papa­tayin siya  habang nasa barko kaya ipina-deport na lang. Kadarating lang niya mismo at nag-stay lang sandali sa agency nang magbigti siya,” ani PO3 Layugan.

source: philstar.com

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Sinibak sa trabaho, seaman nagbigti

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2 Pinoy seafarers among injured in ship engine room fire in Gujar

Three crew injured as fire breaks out in ship at Gujarat’s Kandla port December 2, 2015

The injured were rushed to Gandhidham hospital located about 12 kilometres from the port.

Three crew members of a foreign cargo vessel received burn injuries after fire broke out in the engine room of a ship at Kandla port in Gujarat on Tuesday night, official sources said.

“The incident happened after the vessel with a Malta flag had emptied timber and was on its way back out of the port carrying salt,” Kandla Port Trust officials said.

The injured were rushed to Gandhidham hospital located about 12 kilometres from the port. “Two Filipinos and a Sri Lankan were among the crew who were injured,” officials said adding that the injuries were not of a serious nature.

The traffic at the port has not been affected and the affected by the incident, sources added.

Source: indianexpress.com

:Seafarer times

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2 Pinoy seafarers among injured in ship engine room fire in Gujar

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Measure protecting seamen from ambulance chasing signed by Aquino

PRESIDENT Benigno S. C. Aquino III has signed into law a measure protecting seafarers against ambulance chasing, prescribing penalties for individuals who charge exorbitant fees with the promise of huge monetary award.

Cadets at the commemoration of seafarer’s day — BW File Photo

Republic Act (RA) 10706 or the Seafarers Protection Act, signed on Nov. 26 and published in a newspaper on Monday, states that ambulance chasing is the act of soliciting, personally or through an agent, from seafarers or their heirs, the pursuit of any claim against their employers for the purpose of recovery of monetary claim or benefit, including legal interest, arising from accident, illness or death, in exchange for a fee which shall be retained or deducted from the monetary claim or benefit granted to or awarded to the seafarers or their heirs.

“As some unscrupulous individuals who have taken advantage of the plight of our seafarers who met an accident, illness or death in the course of their service by exploiting the compensation system, our seafarers have fallen prey to an unfair scheme where ambulance chasers charge exorbitant fees, with the promise of huge monetary award,” the law read.

RA 10706 declares ambulance chasing illegal and states that violators face a P50,000 to P100,000 fine and/or imprisonment of one to two years. The same penalties shall be imposed upon any person in collusion with this illicit enterprise.

The new law also mandates that the fees collected by an individual who appears or represents seafarers in cases of recovery of monetary claim or benefit, including legal interest, arising from accident, illness or death, should not exceed 10% of the compensation or benefit awarded to the seafarer or his heirs.

Fees, according to RA 10706, are the total amount of compensation of the person who appears for or represents the seafarer or his heirs for services rendered.

The Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration were tasked to promulgate within 90 days the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of RA 10706.

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara said some lawyers take advantage of the plight of our seafarers in the course of their service.

“To exploit the compensation system, these law practitioners have purposely sought excessive labor claims not commensurate to their actual entitlement,” Mr. Angara, one of the law’s authors, said.

Mr. Angara said ambulance chasers not only resort to this “unacceptable practice” but also charge “exorbitant legal fees” and seek up to 40% of the total money claims granted. — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza

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Measure protecting seamen from ambulance chasing signed by Aquino

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PNoy signs 2 new laws for seafarers, convicts

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has signed into law two measures, including one protecting Filipino seafarers from unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of them by charging exorbitant fees and promising huge returns should they meet accidents while on the job.

Under Republic Act 10706, entitled “Seafarers Protection Act,” individuals or groups found to have charged seafarers excessively will have to suffer maximum imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of P100,000 or both.

The same penalty will also apply to every person found to have conspired in this illegal act.

The new law is a combination of Senate Bill 2835 that senators approved last Sept. 21, and House Bill 5268, which the lawmakers passed last Sept. 30 and Aquino signed into law on Nov. 26.

It is a law against ambulance chasing and imposition of excessive fees on Filipino seafarers.

Under the new law, it shall be “unlawful” for any person to solicit, personally or through an agent, from seafarers the pursuit of any claim against their employers for the purpose of recovery of monetary claim, legal interest included, arising from accident, illness or death.

It also provides a threshold fee where suits for recovery of monetary claim or benefit were filed either at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) or the Department of Labor and Employment where such fees “should not exceed 10 percent of the compensation or benefit awarded to the seafarer or his heirs.”

The government observed that some individuals or groups have exploited the compensation system and seafarers have “fallen prey to an unfair scheme” where ambulance chasers charge “exorbitant fees with the promise of huge monetary award.”

“Toward this end, such practice shall be declared unlawful,” the new law warned.

Meantime, Aquino also signed into law Republic Act 10707, amending the Marcos-era Presidential Decree 968 that provided rules on convicts who are eligible for pardon under the old statute.

Section 4 now provides that a judge can grant a convicted felon probation and “suspend” the execution of his sentence, place the defendant on “probation for such period and upon such terms and conditions as the regional trial court may deem best.”

This is provided the convicted felon files for such an application to be granted probation.

However, the convicted felon will not be entitled to such probation if he has opted to file an appeal, or has perfected the appeal for the “judgment of conviction imposing a non-probationable penalty.”

source: PhilStar News

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PNoy signs 2 new laws for seafarers, convicts

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Sailors’ Society Helps Philippines Rebuild after Typhoon rebuilding

Two years on from the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), thousands of Filipinos from seafaring communities are benefiting from the rebuilding program provided by maritime charity Sailors’ Society.

On November 8 2013, the most powerful storm ever to make landfall struck the Philippines, killing more than 6,000 people and leaving millions without food, shelter or livelihood.

Having raised £225,000 in an emergency appeal, Sailors’ Society partnered with Habitat for Humanity Philippines and the Homer Foundation and began a campaign to help rebuild communities affected by the super Typhoon.

Sandra Welch, Sailors’ Society’s director of program, said: “We have long offered chaplaincy and welfare support to seafarers in the Philippines. When the typhoon struck, it was vital that Sailors’ Society acted to provide dedicated emergency support and longer-term relief to those who had had their lives torn apart.”

The Rebuild Philippines campaign has delivered 48 new typhoon and earthquake resilient homes for seafarers’ families, fishing boats for seafarers’ families who need this supplementary income to get back on their feet and a dedicated family outreach worker providing trauma counselling and specialist help. Three port chaplains are working with seafarers and their families, offering financial and spiritual support.

Sailors’ Society chaplain Jasper del Rosario, said: “The young widow of a seafarer was stripped of all means to support herself after the storm. Her home was devastated and her business destroyed. Nothing was left, only thick, black mud inside her ruined home and dead bodies of her neighbors and friends lay around. She was crying when she asked: “How can I look after my children?” We recommended grants to help her support her family and rebuild her home and business. Her eldest son wants to become a seafarer someday like his dad.”

Some 4,500 schools were damaged or destroyed in the disaster and Sailors’ Society has built classrooms that double as emergency community shelters. More than 1,500 students and teachers will benefit from these new buildings and equipment, including bikes for students to travel the often long distance to school. Two newly built medical/community centers are also providing vital health facilities and meeting points.

Welch added: “Thousands of lives are now getting back on track as a result of our joint relief efforts, but the development work is ongoing and, for many, the emotional scars are still healing. In 2016, Sailors’ Society plans to build more homes and medical centers for seafaring communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan, as well as continuing to provide welfare and emotional support.”

Source: UFS

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Sailors’ Society Helps Philippines Rebuild after Typhoon rebuilding

Blogger Tuesday, November 17, 2015