Vice Minister Nguyen Thanh Long
Honorable members of the National Assembly present here today,
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen!
It is my honour and pleasure to co-chair this very important meeting today. I would like to commend the government for its continued advocacy against asbestos, and its commitment toward the elimination of asbestos in Viet Nam.
About 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. According to WHO estimates, more than 107 000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposure.
The latest evaluations of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) provides sufficient evidence in humans that all forms of asbestos cause cancer. While there are variations in the carcinogenic potency between the different forms of asbestos, this does not alter the fundamental conclusion that the epidemiological evidence indicates that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans.
WHO has long been working with countries to prevent disease by eliminating exposure to harmful materials and substances. The World Health Assembly has passed various resolutions towards this end, urging Member States to pay special attention to cancers for which avoidable exposure is a factor and to carry out a global campaign for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases.
While many countries around the world have taken bold measures to ban asbestos, enormous challenges remain in Viet Nam. Viet Nam continues to be the 10th largest consumer of asbestos by volume and the 7th largest per capita in the world. Asbestos is used in many ways in Viet Nam, such as in the production of asbestos-cement roofing, car and motorbike breaks, insulation for heat sources in shipping and boilers among others. This increases the risk of exposure not only of the industry workers but the entire population as a whole.
The government has long since recognized the harmful carcinogenic effect of asbestos and in 2004 banned the use of amphibole asbestos. However, the use of chrysotile (white asbestos) not only continued but significantly increased over the past years with the government allowing its use up to 2020. It is alarming that there is a possibility of extending asbestos use as a construction material until 2030 as proposed by the Ministry of Construction in a draft National Master Plan for Development of Construction Materials.
WHO, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization and with other intergovernmental organizations and civil society is strongly pursuing its work with countries towards elimination of asbestos-related diseases in the following strategic directions:
- by recognizing that the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of all types of asbestos;
- by providing information about solutions for replacing asbestos with safer substitutes and developing economic and technological mechanisms to stimulate its replacement;
- by taking measures to prevent exposure to asbestos in place and during asbestos removal, and,
- by improving early diagnosis, treatment, social and medical rehabilitation of asbestos-related diseases and establishing registries of people with past and/or current exposures to asbestos.
We recognize, that some sectors in government continue to advocate for the use of asbestos for its economic value. But any economic gain is nothing when compared to the suffering and loss of lives of people. Public health should, at all times, take precedence over trade and economic objectives. The sustainable development of this country lies in a healthy, vibrant and productive people.
We hope that the workshop today shall once again re-enforce the need for urgent actions towards the total elimination of asbestos-use in Viet Nam. WHO remains committed to support the government in this process.
In closing, I would like to thank you all once again for your presence here today. We look forward to you active participation in the workshop and your continued engagement towards our call to protect the public from asbestos.
Thank you
Mr Jeffery Kobza