HEALTH ISSUES HOUND SEAFARERS
Although in demand for their skills, Filipino seafarers tend to indulge when on vacation, affecting their health.
While the demand for Filipino seafarers around the globe remains strong, their “unhealthy lifestyle” hinders them from enjoying the limitless opportunities to grow in their career and send more money back home.
Abojeb Company managing director Carl Martin Faannessen said that while Filipino seafarers are enjoy top preference from shipowners because of their skill and attitude, the country’s “modern day heroes” fall short in improving their lifestyle, which hin- ders most of them to be renewed (for work) right away.
A seafarer’s average contract is between six and nine months. But Faannessen noted that when they get home for two to three months’ vacation, they indulge in eating unhealthy food and drinking alcohol.
“Some issues that have to be dealt with, if you look at the overseas shipowners’ perspective, is the general health. Seafarers are away for six to nine months and when they come home, it is so tempting to eat nothing but lechon, crispy pata and drink alcohol every day because you don’t get it every day onboard. However, it will have effects on your health,” Faannessen said.
Filipinos stand out again, but for the wrong reason, he said.
“Sadly, they are over-represented when it comes to illnesses and injuries on board ships and a lot can be traced back to lifestyle,” he noted.
The Abojeb official urged the government and industry stakeholders to join efforts in educating workers about adopting a healthy lifestyle.
“They have a big role to play to shift the perception of what it really means to live a healthy Filipino lifestyle,” he said.
Common illnesses recorded among Filipino seafarers are type 2 diabetes, high blood, and high cholesterol. While these can be addressed with medications, Faannessen said this might pose risks prior to departure.
“These illnesses reduce chances of crew to get onboard and might lose the job to other nationalities,” said Arleen Asuncion, Abojeb senior vice president for crewing.
Although seafarers have nothing to worry about in terms getting medical attention while onboard, as shipowners also invest in highly-qualified medical personnel and fairly advanced medical equipment, Asuncion said it is a competitive advantage for Filipinos if they have a good health record.
According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, the country deploys an average of 150,000 seafarers (non-officers) year-on-year while non-marine workers, such as those deployed on cruise ships, stood at 160,000 annually.