PROJECTS

 ITF projects

The International Seafarers Trust was instrumental in the start up of IMHA, providing both initial funds and also support for two specific activities:


drafting the next (3rd.) edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships. This has involved a large number of members, each of whom has prepared one chapter. The Draft has now be handed to WHO who are leading on the publication process.
support for a programme of workshops. These small group meetings have drawn together experts to prepare reports on a wide range of topics, including malaria, health in the fishing industry, port health, postgraduate education, psychosocial problems among seafarers and drug and alcohol policies.
In 2004 ITF agreed to support a series of projects for which we have received a 3 year grant:
-development of a network of regional and local contacts to increase the influence of IMHA on maritime health
-work to improve the links between IMHA and international organizations to ensure that maritime health improvement was seen as a priority-creation of a programme of work groups to improve health practice on specific topics for the benefit of seafarers
-development of the IMHA website to provide a source of public access information and advice on maritime health
-development of material for short courses to improve awareness of maritime health issues among groups such as welfare workers, personnel managers and trade union representatives
- providing a resource for refereeing research proposals on maritime health both for ITF Trust and for other funding bodies.

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ICSW Project with IMHA participation

ITF Trust is also funding the
Seafarers Health Information Project (SHIP) through the International Committee on Seafarers Welfare (ICSW). IMHA is involved in project direction and in providing office support. It is led by Dr Rob Verbist, a former IMHA President.

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IMHA Projects

IMHA also has two projects which are seen as bringing benefits to the Association and its members-development of quality assurance systems for maritime health providers- regional and international training seminars on maritime health topics.

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BUPA Foundation project

An IMHA working group is developing revised medical fitness criteria for seafarers.

These will be presented to the ILO and WHO as proposed replacements for the 1997 ILO/WHO guidelines on medical standards for seafarers.

Project proposals and requests for collaboration

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Medmar Project
An invitation to international collaboration, coordinator Dr.D. Jegaden, this project was presented last year, 2004,the EC thematic network Socrates-Erasmus 3 indicated that we succeeded the first evaluation for interest. In Feb. 2005 we have asked other partners to join and had a meeting in Brussels for the economic part,we are waiting for its approval by the end of July, 2005. Just as a short reminder about the objectives of this European Project Medmar. Post-university education in maritime medicine in Europe. Let's remind that the estimated duration will be 36 months. Main objectives are: to define main competences for maritime medicine (medical examinations, on board medicine, medical care and emergencies, radio-medical advice ...), data bases in maritime health, and common contents in the training of maritime medicine in Europe (European master).

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Project of a network of EU port health authorities,
an invitation to international collaboration, coordinator Dr. Baur, he tries to present this project and gives the interested collaborators a deadline to show their interest (15.4.05). IHMA had already organised a workshop about this subject in Barcelona, V. 2002; it would be good to have a group working in it. Those interested contact Dr. Baur, Institute for Occupational Medicine / Maritime Medicine, Seewartenstr.10, D-20459 Hamburg, Tel.040 428894 510 or 040 428894 514, Fax 040 427948136.

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Sarrrah Project, an invitation to international collaboration,suggested by Dr. Wolfgang Baumeier, the Sarrrah project is about accidental hypothermia and medical management of maritime desasters. See project web site

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International Surveillance of Seafarers Health and Working Environment,
A Danish invitation to international collaboration.ITF Seafarer's Trust sponsorship. This project was presented in the 5th ISMH in London, from October 1999 pilot questionnaires have been collected by each participant, a new stage began in January 2001. Visit the
web site. of the project. For more information, please contact Dr.Olaf Jensen Research Unit of Maritime Medicine University of Southern Denmark.

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Internet refresher course on first aid and maritime health on board
From the Spanish Society of Maritime Medicine; it was supported by IMHA and ITF Seafarer's Trust for its translation into English; this course is open to international collaboration to update some of the subjects. Visit web site..