Airport 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. Airport Health Organisation (APHO) ensures implementation of International Health Regulation, International Sanitary regulation and Indian Aircraft (Public Health) Rules.
Airport Health Organisation Cochin was established on 23 August 2006. Presently Airport Health Organisation, Cochin is a fully functional unit with a quarantine facility and and yellow fever vaccination centre.
Cochin international Airport is the busiest and the largest airport in the state of Kerala. 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.
- Surveillance of diseases notified by Govt. of India.
Disease surveillance at Airport Health Organisation basically includes 2 categories- Disease surveillance on regular basis like surveillance of Yellow Fever disease. As per the standard protocol all international passengers are screened by Immigration Officers. Passengers coming from Yellow fever infected countries without valied Yellow fever vaccination card are identified. If such passengers are identified by immigration officers they are referred to APHO Pre – immigration office for decision making.
- Disease surveillance when a PHEIC is declared by World Health Organization and Govt. of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare decide to initiate surveillance.
- Indian Embassy Non-Objection Certificate.
- Copy of the cancelled passport.
- Death certificate clearly showing the cause of death.
- Embalm certificate.
- Non contagious certificate. This office will examine the documents presented and permit/deny the request given by the aircraft operators. Intimation along with copies of the necessary documents should be send to APHO mail (aphocochinhum@gmail.com) at least 48hrs before. The documents will be scrutinised and decision taken will be conveyed to the consignee/aircraft operator. Similarly clearance certificate is issued for the on board death cases after examination of the body.
