AMOSUP in full force, Seamen’s Hospitals all hands on deck in nationwide inoculation of Filipino seafarers
The Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) has so far fully vaccinated more than 11,553 seafarers since the Union began its collaboration with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Department of Health (DOH) in the nationwide vaccination program for Filipino seafarers.
AMOSUP carries out the inoculation through the union-run Seamen’s Hospitals in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and Davao City, under the proactive leadership of AMOSUP President Dr Conrado F Oca and the Seamen’s Hospitals’ Medical Directors – Dr George Pile and Dr. Alejandro Ortigas of AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital Manila; Dr Richard Pecson of AMOSUP Gig Oca Robles Seamen’s Hospital in Davao City; Dr Teody Alcantara of AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital in Cebu; and Dr Arnold Liwag of AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital in Iloilo.
The Davao City Government also tapped AMOSUP Gig Oca Robles Seamen’s Hospital to administer vaccines to almost 4,000 citizens. Majority of the Union’s health care workers and office staff are also vaccinated with the help of Local Government Units (LGUs) in Manila, Cebu, Davao and Iloilo.
The cities of Manila, Taguig, Makati, Las Pinas, Mandaluyong, Marikina and Quezon City rolled out their own vaccination drive for seafarers in recognition of their vital role as the country’s economic front liners. AMOSUP has also reached out to other LGUs to offer its assistance to vaccinate seafarers in their jurisdiction. Seafarers are currently on the A1 Category in the government’s vaccination priority list.
According to Dr Oca, AMOSUP is committed to taking part in the country’s efforts to achieve herd immunity. “Basta tayo, bakuna lang nang bakuna. We are contributing to national recovery. Road to recovery itong ginagawa natin, tumutulong tayo sa gobyerno, sa lahat. Internationally, they get Filipino seafarers kasi pursigido tayo magbakuna ng tao” (We just have to keep on vaccinating. We are contributing to national recovery. What we are doing is the road to recovery, we are helping the government, everyone. Internationally, they get Filipino seafarers because we are determined to vaccinate people.), he said.
MARINA recently designated AMOSUP as its regular partner for seafarers’ vaccination, while the DOH Bureau of Quarantine sought AMOSUP’s assistance in administering its allocated vaccines.
AMOSUP continues its call on LGUs to open their doors to seafarers for vaccination and to prioritise giving them the single-shot J&J vaccine, especially those who are about to go on board. The union said it is open to lending its manpower and equipment to facilitate seafarers’ vaccination in other cities.
“The more groups na magbakuna, the more people na mabakunahan, the better. That will all contribute to herd immunity” (The more groups that vaccinate, the more people we vaccinate, the better. That will all contribute to herd immunity.), Dr. Oca added.
