Plea made for COVID vaccine jab facility to all seamen

NT NETWORK

Margao

Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) has appealed to the state as well as the Centre to allow the seafarer’s community in the state to receive COVID vaccine regardless of any age limit and considering them as the key workers.

In a letter to the Prime Minister as well as Chief Minister and Health Minister, the association has appealed to consider them as essential workers since the majority of the global shipping industry is dependent on them.

“As 90 per cent of global goods come to us via the global shipping industry, a sector invisible to most of us and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers have faced difficulties in working conditions including uncertainties about port access, stores supply crew change overs and repatriation. In view of this crisis, the International Maritime Organization has drawn the attention of member states to designate seafarers as key workers providing essential services to the nation,” said GSAI president Frank Viegas in the letter.

It further said, “Since government of India declares that seafarers as key workers, we urge our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Health and Family Welfare  Harsh Vardhan, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to provide seafarers with the COVID-19 vaccine on priority without considering any age limit.”

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