This was the first time voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) sessions were organised during the annual seminars in India, Indonesia, Jamaica and the Philippines run by the NSU (Norwegian Seafarers’ Union), AMOSUP (The Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines), FIT-CISL (Federazione Italiana Trasporti) and the ITF. The seminars have been held since 2005 to make cruise ship workers aware of their rights and knowledgeable about health and wellbeing on board.
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In Cebu, Philippines from 3-5 March, 41 of the 80 seminar participants and officials took part in the VCT sessions. In the case of a positive result, the individual will be referred to the appropriate authorities and will decide for themselves whether to disclose their status.
Lena Dyring, NSU assistant director of cruise ship operations and a member of the ITF women’s committee, said: “This is a very important breakthrough as half of the people who are infected globally do not know their status, and this leads to the spread of HIV and the development of AIDS. It is important for all HIV positive persons to know their status at early stage so that they can receive counselling, support and appropriate treatment.”
Steve Trowsdale, ITF maritime training and development officer, was one of the participants who took the HIV test. He added that the enthusiasm displayed at the Cebu seminar had opened the way to VCT sessions being organised at all future cruise ship seminars. He also assured seafarers that, according to WHO-IMO guidelines, HIV status is not a barrier to getting a job on board a ship, as long as the seafarer is healthy and capable of fulfilling his or her duties.
Find out more about the ITF’s work on HIV/AIDS. If you want to attend a seminar, contact the organisers at seminars@nsu.org.
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