A Filipino doctor and health and medical researcher, Dr Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno III, has been honored by the Medical University of Gdansk in Poland for his work in international maritime health.  Dr Lucero-Prisno, the only Filipino Lecturer with the School of Medicine of the University of Liverpool, was cited for his research work and activities in global maritime health.
 

The Polish university recognized his contributions to the development of medical science of maritime medicine, and his untiring efforts in the development of international maritime health, which paved the way to collaborations and international exchange of cooperation among different maritime medical centres worldwide. 
Dr Lucero-Prisno has been working in the field of maritime health for almost a decade now.  His work has brought him to many ports and places all over the world.   He has been on board many ships to conduct research.  He has been working on different areas of seafarers’ health such as stress, maritime piracy, HIV/AIDS, accidents and welfare issues.  In 2010 during the Year of the Seafarer, he led the campaign in the Philippines to gather signature for the Stop Piracy Now to push the United Nations to take more actions. 

He has written books and published research articles in a number of scientific journals.  He has delivered lectures and speeches in numerous countries discussing his work and advocating for better working conditions for the global seafarers.  Recently, he was chosen Chair of the International Maritime Health Research Network (MARIN), which is an international network of researchers and research institutions conducting, promoting and disseminating maritime health research and its related subjects and using these findings for maritime policy development.

Professor Bogdan Jaremin of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine handed the Honorary Award Diploma in International Maritime Health during the Second International Congress on Maritime, Tropical and Hyperbaric Medicine on Baltic Sea on 11 June 2012 onboard a cruise ship from Gdansk, Poland to Nynasham, Sweden.  The recognition was also endorsed by the Polish Society of Maritime Tropical and Travel Medicine and the Editorial Board of the International Maritime Health Journal.

Dr. Lucero-Prisno has previously been recognized in the Philippines as one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Maritime Health and Global Health in 2009, Top Science and Technology Honours of the Philippines for 2009, and Outstanding Alumnus of the University of the Philippines and the Leyte Normal University in 2011 among others.  His research work has also received international recognition through a number of awards.

With the Philippines playing a major role in the global maritime industry having provided the most of number of seafarers to the world’s shipping fleet, it is crucial to have a Filipino actively involved in the global maritime policy-making to advance and help protect the health, welfare and rights of seafarers.  Dr Lucero-Prisno has exactly done this role and continues to do so as it has become his commitment. 

 

 

Munting Nayon News Magazine