A seminar on building capacity in preventing asbestos-related diseasesin 2010 and following years was held in Hanoi on December 21.
The seminar was part of an asbestos-related disease prevention projectjointly implemented by the National Institute of Labour Protection(NILP) under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and theAustralian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (APHEDA)organisation.
The project, which kicked off inFebruary and finished in December this year, focused on studying the useof asbestos and diseases relating to the substance in Vietnam andeducating labourers and businesses on the danger of asbestos. Theproject also set up a data centre on asbestos and asbestos-relateddiseases.
Participants at the seminar assessed theproject’s outcomes and got updated on methods for early diagnosis ofasbestos-related diseases and new materials that can replace asbestos.
According to NILP Director Le Van Trinh, Vietnamis one of the ten largest asbestos consumers in the world with more than60,000 tonnes per year.
At present, Vietnamhas nearly 40 asbestos cement (AC) roof sheet production facilities thatconsume around 90-95 percent of imported asbestos volume and produceclose to 100 million sq.m of AC sheets per year./.