Nina served the Norwegian Seafarers Union and created a positive and lasting impact to the lives of seafarers around the world
AMOSUP has paid tribute to a member of its union partner in Norway who helped and touched the lives of countless seafarers worldwide by naming one of the sections of Seamen’s Hospital Manila in her memory.
The posthumous dedication of the Hospital’s Oncology Unit and Ward to the life of Nina Espeli Allen reminisced “a notable and noble woman” who served the Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSU), said AMOSUP president Dr Conrado Oca.
Nina served the NSU and created a positive and lasting impact to the lives of seafarers around the world, Dr Oca told friends and guests at the dedication ceremony held at the hospital last 23 July 2018. She succumbed to Cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer in November 2016.
Born on 26 July 1976 in Norway, Nina later on moved to the United States where she met her husband, Walt Allen. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Hannah and Oliver. She began her work for NSU in 2000 and started to advocate the rights and wellbeing of seafarers.
AMOSUP opened the newly-constructed Nina Espeli Allen Oncology Ward with five beds, an isolation room and four cubicles, solely for patients who are needing in-patient cancer treatment.
Dr Oca stressed the Unit and Ward will be “a hallmark of courage and hope for our beloved seafarers and their families who are battling cancer.”
Cancer knows no age, status, gender or nationality, he said. The AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital treats an average of over a hundred oncology outpatients per month. It also has recorded a total of 139 oncology admissions in the first half of 2018.
Seamen’s Hospital director Dr George Pile, who delivered the welcome remarks at the dedication ceremonies, said Nina may “not be with us anymore and is deeply missed by everyone, especially her family and close friends.”
However, Dr Pile said, “Nina is happy and smiling in heaven because she knows that we have not forgotten her.” She had touched the lives of many seafarers, was full of energy and passionate about her work, he added.
The hospital also has provided and trained a dedicated oncology nurse and a compounding area for the cancer patients’ outpatient treatment. It also brought in a medical oncologist (cancer specialist) in its roster of specialists to treat adult members and their family who are diagnosed with cancer.
“Putting up a cancer ward dedicated to the memory of a cancer patient herself as Nina is an admirable effort of the hospital,” said Dr Agnes Gorospe, who heads the Oncology Section. She stressed that this dedication “sends a message of confidence and continued commitment to all our seafarers and their loved ones.”
AMOSUP hopes the facilities to be a timeless testament to Nina’s valuable contribution in the industry, where she has left an indelible mark. SF
Oncology Section: Upgraded facilities, benefits for members
Cancer knows no age, status, gender or nationality. At AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital , the medical facility treats an average of over a hundred oncology outpatients per month. It also has recorded a total of 139 oncology admissions in the first six months of this year.
According to the most recent Philippine Cancer Registry Facts and Figures, cancer incidence has increased dramatically in the last decade, with breast, lung and colorectal cancers leading by incidence.
Recognising the need to address this relevant health problem among its members, their families and staff, Dr Conrado Oca said the hospital has worked hard by bringing the following improvements and benefits:
1) In 2007, the hospital added a Cancer Specialist (Medical Oncologist) in our roster of medical specialists to treat our adult members and their family who are diagnosed with cancer;
2) Since 2012, cancer drugs were included in the hospital pharmacy and became available to cancer patients for free. In the past, patients had to buy all chemo drugs out of pocket, but now its 100% free for basic chemotherapy;
3) It has a new, recently opened, spacious outpatient anti-neoplastic treatment unit which became operational early this year in the Southwing. The unit can accommodate seven to eight patients on outpatient chemo. This significantly decreased its in-patient occupancy rate and this also made the patients’ cancer treatment journey more comfortable, bearable and safer as they do not have to be admitted and be exposed to possible hospital acquired infections;
4) Through the help of its nursing service, it has provided and trained a dedicated oncology nurse and a compounding area for the cancer patients’ outpatient treatment;
5) It has constantly updated and upgraded its radiologic diagnostic services like Ultrasound, CT Scan, Bone Scan and the latest addition, the MRI. They are all very essential in the diagnosis and management of cancer patients. These diagnostics allow the doctors to do minimally invasive procedures like image guided biopsies to diagnose cancer;
6) It has an up-to-date and modern Pathology Department that possesses state-of-the-art immunostains and in-situ-hybridization techniques, which form the core of cancer diagnosis. SF