VISION , MISSION AND KEY OBJECTIVES
Port Health organisation, Cochin is a ‘Public Authority’ established for the detailed execution of the Policies of the Government of India with the status of a ‘Subordinate Office’ of Directorate General of Health Services under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi. This Public Authority functions with the funds provided by the Government of India.
The Port Health Organisation, Cochin was established in the year 12th December 1942 to ensure prevention of entry of Quarantinable diseases (Diseases subjected to International Health Regulations) into the country under Indian Port Health Rules, 1955.
India, a Member State of World Health Organisation has adopted the International Health Regulations 2005 with some “Reservations”. The objective of ‘International Health Regulations’ is to ensure the maximum security against the international spread of communicable disease with a minimum interference with world traffic. The “Reservations of India” to these Regulations is towards ‘Prevention of entry of Yellow Fever into India. As per these Regulations, a Member State has to maintain as many of the Sanitary Ports and Airports as practicable with organized medical and health service with adequate staff, equipment, premises etc to be prepared for any Public Health Emergencies.
Cochin Port is an all-weather natural sea port. Among all the Indian Ports, Cochin is located closest to the international routes, being only 11 nautical miles from the Gulf to Singapore route and 70 nautical miles from the Suez Canal – Far East route.
Cochin seaport is one of the major sea port designated by World Health Organisation as International Sanitary Port in the western Coastline of the Indian subcontinent. PHO, Cochin is a designated and approved Port for issue of ‘ Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate, Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Extension Certificate to Ships’
- Vallarpadam International Trans-shipment Container Terminal, Vallarpadam Ernakulam.
- Cochin Seaport, Willingdon Island, Cochin
- LNG Terminal, Puthuvype, Ernakulam.
– Vizhinjam Port, Trivandrum District
– Neendakara Port, Kollam District
– Thangassery Port, Kollam District
– Beypore Port, Kozhikode District
– Azhikal Port, Kannur District
In Karnataka, PHO Cochin is the statutory authority for issue of Ship Sanitation Exemption Control Certificates /Ship Sanitation Control Certificates & Extension to Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate and Medicine Chest Inspection Certificates for ships berthing at
– New Manglore Port, Manglore.
– Malpe Fishing Harbour, Malpe, Udupi
-Karwar Seaport
1.To prevent, protect against, control and provide a coordinated appropriate public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that commensurate with and restricted to public health risks and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade activities.
2.To serve as Public health Service provider in cochin seaport to port users, Port community, travellers and general public.
1.To provide efficient, high quality, dependable user friendly Port Health Services to port users and travellers .
2.The organisation will strive to manage its resources for optimal economic use to Indian port community, port users and nation
To ensure appropriate surveillance and response measures at Cochin Seaport for prevention of entry and transmission of infectious diseases/ PHEIC across international borders via symptomatic crews and passengers arriving from PHEIC affected countries.
For early detection, to minimize societal disruptions by providing/ensuring access to appropriate prevention, care and treatment.
To protect the visiting crews/ passengers and populations living in PHEIC affected countries.
To reduce community morbidity and mortality due to PHEIC.
To ensure safe environment for travellers.
To plan for maximum utilisation of available resources and services.
To ensure rapid, timely and coordinated action to control PHEIC.