Mainstreaming Health in Maritime Education and Training.

Annual General Assembly 2005 - Malmö

Section 3

Mainstreaming Health in Maritime Education and Training.

Lucero-Prisno III, D.E.¹, Muramatsu, S.², Hisamune, S.³, Ehara, M.²
1 - International Maritime Health Association, Philippines
2 - Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Japan
3 - Hachinohe University, Japan

ABSTRACT

Death, injuries and diseases remain an major problem among the world's seafarers. A few reasons are: lack of knowledge on health problems related to maritime work, occupational risks, vulnerability due to mobility, exposure to diseases in other places, behaviour and practices, and access to medical and health services information. Despite the mandatory training as stipulated in the STCW Convention, health knowledge is not translated to actions while on board ships. In fact, the practice of self-medication aggravates the problem.

The radio-medical service is not popularly used unless in an extreme necessity on board. The consequence of this ill health, accidents and deaths may result I loss of productivity, loss of income for the family and the national economy and a high cost to the insurance industry, in particular the P&I Clubs.

Increasingly, pre-medical examination is being requested in an effort to limit health claims, which may amount to millions of dollars every year. One approach to contain the problem is mainstreaming health ion maritime education and training.

Methodologies and approaches on mainstreaming will be discussed in this paper.