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Showing posts from March, 2022

Covid-19 :Telemedicine and Seafarers Health

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  Coronavirus is a member of a large virus family that causes pulmonary pathologies ranging from the common cold to severe respiratory syndromes like the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (SARS). SARS-CoV-2, also known as the novel coronavirus, was discovered in Wuhan, China. There were 5,934,936 cases reported worldwide until May 31, 2020, with 367,166 deaths. Despite the apparent decrease in COVID-19 cases, the lack of a treatment or vaccine for this deadly and highly transmissible virus means that this medical emergency remains a global concern. COVID-19 is far more difficult to treat on board a ship than it is ashore. Ships at sea are an example of isolated communities, and the fact that most cargo ships do not have doctors or properly trained paramedics makes intervention more difficult. For seafarers, the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious issue. From the perspective of an organization, seafarers have significant difficulties joini

Managing the supply of medical oxygen for ships

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  All sick seafarers should be assessed on board and appropriately managed by the officer in charge of medical care, with assistance from Telemedical Assistance Services. If shore-side medical care is required, the seafarer should be medically disembarked into a shore-side facility as soon as possible, using whatever means are available. Port States have a duty to provide such care, as outlined in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 20061, STCW, and other international treaties. The need for medical oxygen on board a ship to treat a sick seafarer until disembarkation is well recognized and outlined in a flag State's medicine chest requirements. The COVID 19 pandemic has brought to light the issue of how much medical oxygen should be carried on board, as well as the difficulties in purchasing and supplying oxygen cylinders. If an outbreak of COVID 19 occurs onboard, it is noted that 50 percent of the crew is frequently affected, and up to 20 percent of them may require oxygen