Ports and Shipping

Dear Colleagues,

Just to let you know that an updated list of IHR authorized ports to issue Ship Sanitation Certificates was published yesterday.

As ever, the link is at https://www.who.int/ihr/ports_airports/portslanding/en/ 

Kind Regards and Stay Safe,

Martin Walker, 

Facilitator, Ports and Shipping Group

Hi, my name is Christopher Urena, I'm a medical doctor with more than 14 years of experience, mainly working for the Ministry of Health in Costa Rica, as a Director of a local office and in charge of +20 employees. I have a lot of experience on IHR and PoE because of my responsability as the main health port authority in the pacific coast (Caldera Port), and creator of the Contingency Plan and many other duties alike. I write this because I'm looking for an abroad working experience, to be able to give more and learn more, and although I know that this forum may not be for this kind of post

Dear Colleagues,

The long awaited statement from WHO/IMO/ILO regarding this subject has just been published. It provides the temporary answer to this question that has been raised by many Member States. You will particularly wish to look at page 3 which outlines temporary options for inspectors including multiple extensions of SSCs in the absence of COVID-19 cases or absence of suspicions of them.

Dear colleagues,

I hope you are well in times of COVID19. I take the opportunity to ask: how you are proceeding with the Ship Sanitation Certificate? 

In Brasil we extend for 30 days but the term is expiring. How are you dealing with the issue? We think about extending it while the pandemic lasts.

Best Regards,

Rodolfo Navarro Nunes

ANVISA/Brasil

Dear Colleagues,

WHO has issued updated international travel advice as of 29 February 2020. It also includes links to newly updated documents for matters such as Operational Considerations for managing outbreaks o ships and Management of Ill travellers at Points of Entry.

With the usual warning that you should keep a check on which advice is the most up to date on the WHO website (given that so much is changing rapidly), the advice should be of interest to all working in the area of Points of Entry.

Dear Colleagues,

With substantial media attention focussed on the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it is easy to forget that there is still a second PHEIC in place for Ebola Virus in the DRC. The IHR Emergency Committee of WHO met yesterday and reaffirmed that this PHEIC still remains in place. Key messages were: 

For countries at risk:

Dear Colleagues,

I know that there is a flood of information about the current PHEIC but I picked this draft document out from the WHO website. Although draft, it adds to useful guidance and for those working in Points of Entry I would refer you particularly to pages 10 (Travel and Trade) and 13 Points of Entry.

the document can be found at https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/srp-04022020.pdf 

In the fast moving situation involving the Novel Coronavirus 2019-n-CoV, WHO further updated it's travel advice on 27 January 2020.

It can be found at https://www.who.int/ith/2020-27-01-outbreak-of-Pneumonia-caused-by-new-coronavirus/en/ 

Appropriate enhanced surveillance leading to a greater chance of early detection is encouraged at Points of Entry (especially at airports) and further detail is given in the travel advice.

Kind REgards,

Martin Walker