Action Mesothelioma Day highlights tragedy behind statistics
Every year on Action Mesothelioma Day we remember those who have lost their lives to asbestos related diseases including mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group held a virtual event on Friday 3rd July which started at 10.55am. At 12.00 noon a list of victims’ names were remembered online with a virtual dove release. The event continued at 1.00pm with a ‘Meet the Researchers’ session which examined the latest research into mesothelioma.
Marj Magee, Secretary of the Group who lost her husband to mesothelioma some years ago said about the event, “We will be remembering all those who have passed away because of these insidious diseases which, very sadly are on the increase with over 5,000 per year being diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer. HSE statistics show 12,000 Lung disease deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work”. She added “We help and support today’s patients with the vital bespoke support they need and, as a new programme, we will be sending out our new Outreach Officer into the community to construction colleges, building sites, businesses large and small, trade unions, Rotary Clubs, community hubs, clinics and most important of all, schools, the first being New Brighton Primary School, to alert and inform future generations how to safeguard against asbestos they will encounter in many forms during their lifetime”.
John Flanagan, Support Officer for Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group said “We welcome the recent government announcement to spend £560 million for refurbishing existing school buildings, with £200 million set to be spent on repairs at further education colleges, however, this will mean disturbing the tons of asbestos in older schools and we must ensure that the asbestos regulations are complied with and not disregarded to ensure we don’t make future generations of our work force tomorrow’s victims of asbestos. The government must ensure the HSE is adequately funded and reinstate at least some of the eyewatering 46% cuts the service has suffered. He added “We have asked MP’s that an assurance to this affect will be implemented, our group was set up to deal with the legacy of asbestos, we should not be given a new lease of life”
END
For further information contact John Flanagan on 0151 236 1895 or 0779 101 9641 or email info@mavsg.org