Kuala Belait - A delegation of six members from the Ministry of Health Vietnam visited Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd in Kuala Belait.

The delegation included the Deputy Director of Health Environment Management Agency (VIHEMA), Associate Professor Dr Tran Thi Ngoc, Dr Bui Khanh Toan (Head of Office Cabinet, VIHEMA), and Dr Pham Xuan Thanh (Vice Head of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention Division, VIHEMA), among other distinguished members.

The Vietnamese delegation was given a presentation about Megamas activities including health courses from Mohd Roger Ainsworth (General Manager, Megamas). Typical health courses conducted by Megamas include Chemical Handling (crude oil, paints/solvents, H2S, chemical inhibitors) Asbestos Training, Noise Assessment, Radiation Awareness, Office Safety, Manual Handling, Display Screen Equipment, and Stress. It was pointed out that 26 million workdays were lost last year in the UK due to injuries and ill health at work, of which, 22 million were due to ill health.

Also, 17,000 people a year in the UK suffer from ear conditions resulting from noise at work. Depression in the workplace is another area of concern costing huge amounts of money.

The agenda then included a tour of the facilities led by Hj Naweh Hj Abdul Rahman (Training Manager, Megamas) and various exercises were observed at the swimming pool area, fire ground, and defensive driving.

The delegation was very impressed with the facilities and Megamas' capabilities. Mohd Roger Ainsworth told the delegation that, as part of its "internationalisation", Megamas is increasing ties between Brunei and Vietnam by signing an MoU with PVD Training in Vung Tau City, Vietnam.

A team from Megamas will visit Vietnam during from Jan 13 to 16, 2013 for the official signing of the MoU to work together in collaboration to share training expertise with reciprocal development programmes for each company's staff."

Mohd Roger added that, "in addition, Megamas is delivering training in January 2013 to BIS, in Vietnam, which is a large educational establishment with four campuses spread all over Ho Chi Minh".

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin