Support for seafarers’ family struggling with hospital bills

When a seafarer or their family are involved in a sudden and unforeseen situation, they may require financial support. In cases where no other help is available, the Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF) can provide immediate, essential aid. Last year, ISWAN organised support for a seafarer who was struggling to pay the hospital bills after his son was involved in an accident.

Ernesto, an oiler from the Philippines, voluntarily signed off his ship when he was told that his son had been involved in a motorcycle accident. He returned home and immediately went to the hospital to visit his son, who was in coma. Ernesto’s son, also a seafarer, had just finished a two-year contract in the domestic shipping industry when he had his accident.

The family was unable to pay the hospital bills so Ernesto was forced to discharge his son and take him home where the family would have to care for him. His son was in a wheelchair and, although he was now awake, he could not move his body properly and could hear but not speak. Ernesto mortgaged the family’s house but was still unable to pay all of the hospital bills, and his wife had no other means to provide financial support. They also had to stop their other child studying due to their financial situation.

ISWAN’s Regional Director in the Philippines, Jun Pablo, met with the family and listened while they explained their situation. He provided psychosocial support and applied on the family’s behalf for a grant from the Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF) to relieve some of the financial pressure.

The grant was approved and Ernesto was able to pay the balance of the hospital bill and the doctor’s fee, which relieved a great deal of his stress. Ernesto was amazed and thankful that the maritime industry could help his family in this way during this distressing time.