Africa forum seeks to deepen nuclear and radiation use in healthcare

NuPEA CEO Justus Wabuyabo, KNRA's James Keter and IAEA officials Gashaw Wolde and Hildergarde Vandenhove in Nairobi on Thursday /HANDOUT

Health officials from across the region met in Nairobi to discuss measures aimed at strengthening public health systems, including the safe use of nuclear and radiation technologies in healthcare.

The regional forum, which opened on Thursday, was attended by Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni and is being hosted by the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA).

The meeting brings together ministers, deputy ministers and heads of regulatory agencies from Kenya, Burundi, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Togo and Zambia.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Muthoni said the meeting comes at a critical time when countries are seeking to enhance public safety and strengthen health systems amid emerging disease threats such as the recent Ebola outbreak.

“It is a privilege for Kenya to host this meeting at a time when we are focusing on the safety and well-being of our people,” she said, adding that Kenya has heightened surveillance at border points and is strengthening preparedness measures to prevent the disease from crossing into the country.

“We will continue to maintain a high level of alertness at our points of entry and ensure our healthcare workers are adequately trained and equipped to respond,” the PS said. She reiterated that Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases, noting that all suspected infections tested so far had returned negative results.

KNRA director general James Keter said the meeting, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is designed to help countries strengthen their nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure, particularly those still developing regulatory systems.

“Developing a robust regulatory framework is a continuous process. This meeting provides an opportunity for countries to learn from one another and share experiences,” Keter said.

IAEA representative Hildegarde Vandenhove underscored the importance of regional cooperation in improving radiation safety standards and regulatory capacity. “It is important for countries to learn from each other. We want to see nations strengthen their radiation safety infrastructure and improve regulatory effectiveness,” she said.

Nuclear Power and Energy Agency Chief Executive Officer Justus Wabuyabo said Kenya would continue supporting initiatives aimed at enhancing regulatory effectiveness, improving safety oversight and implementing the recommendations that emerge from the meeting.

Delegates are expected to identify priority actions and develop a roadmap to guide implementation across participating countries. Among the key issues under discussion are strengthening leadership, ensuring the independence of regulatory bodies and improving funding for oversight institutions.

Vandenhove added that the growing use of nuclear and radiation technologies in medicine, industry and research makes it increasingly important for countries to build strong regulatory systems capable of protecting people and the environment.

Also present were KNRA Board Chairman Omondi Anyanga and National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation Director-General David Ngigi. Mr Anyanga said the regulator was fully aware of the advancements in nuclear and radiation technologies and had put in place adequate measures to ensure a robust regulatory regime.