Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) president Frank Viegas addressing the media on the seafarers vaccination.
MARGAO
Welcoming the government’s decision to accord priority to the seafarers vis-Ã -vis vaccination, the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) on Monday suggested a couple of measures in a bid to clear the hurdles for the seafarers lining up to join ships and to streamline the vaccination process and make it less cumbersome.
Addressing the media in the presence of executive members, Benny Da Costa, Gabriel Pinto and Santan Pereira, GSAI president Frank Viegas said the system should consider priority category of seafarers ie those who are scheduled to join within the next 1-2 months for walk-in vaccination provided they are registered on Cowin/Aarogya Setu app and are hand carrying their Passport/CDC/SID along with ‘Frontline worker’ annexure duly signed and stamped by respective Shipping company if necessary.
He said government can consider roping in DG Approved Medical Centres to administer vaccines for seafarers as this would reduce the workload at the government designated vaccination centres. In the alternative, he said the government should consider setting up vaccination centre at Mormugao Port Trust or an additional centre at GSAI office Madel Margao, where our office staff and committee members can assist in carrying out vaccination of seafarers.
“We would like to suggest our State & Central government to modify the Cowin or Aarogya Setu app to include Seafarers, etc so that they can select ‘Frontline worker’ option in Cowin/Aarogya Setu app.
Option should be provided under ‘Frontline worker’ category to include Work ID number/CDC number/SID number/Passport Number”, he added.
GSAI Secretary Benny Da Costa said to ensure that only genuine category of Priority Seafarers (the ones who are scheduled to join within the next 1-2 months) & to ensure the ones who have already taken the 1st dose of vaccine get preference, these particular seafarers should be made to upload their ‘Frontline worker’ Annexure which should contain signature, stamp, contact number of their Employer/Shipping company. Therefore a provision should be made available in the Cowin/Aarogya Setu app to upload the ‘Frontline worker’ annexure, he added.
GSAI has expressed its gratitude to Chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Adv Narendra Sawaikar (NRI Commissioner), Capt James Braganza (Captain of Ports) and all those who have shown concern for this initiative to vaccinate seafarers on priority.
