WORKSHOP ON REGULATORY CONTROL OF RADITION SOURCE OPENED

The Minister of Health Major (rtd) Courage Quarshiga has instigated a regional workshop on regulatory control of radiation sources for English speaking countries in Africa in Accra. The workshop which started on the 24th November will end on the 19th December this year. Speaking at the opening the minister said the four weeks course is appropriate and timely because it makes it imperative for IAEA and member states alike to acquire inventory of radioactive sources and radiation emitting devices in their country so as to be able to control and manage their usage and movement. "This will undoubtedly reduce threats caused by illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials ". He said radiation sources and ionizing radiation are used throughout the world for variety of purposes such improvement of process control in the industry, improve diagnosis of diseases such as cancer among others. Major (rtd) Quarshiega said added that despite its benefits there were hazards associated with their usage. To prevent the occurrence of detrimental effects of radiation by ensuring that threshold dose are not exceeded and that radiation exposure are kept as low as reasonably achievable, is the objective of radiation protection.He called for Agency's assistance to other African Member States to implement the recommendations of this meeting as an opportunity for reflection on the role of regulatory and end users of radiation source towards regulatory and control of radioactive sources so as to protect the population and environment against nuclear and radiological acts of terrorism and about national and regional strategies for nuclear safety and security. The Minister urged all participants to take active participation to help them on their return to their various countries to assist improve upon the handling of issues. The Deputy Director General of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Prof. Yaw Serfor Armah said the objective of the workshop was to build competence and expertise needed by national bodies for the establishment and operation of adequate regulatory program for the safety and security of radioactive source which includes medicine, nuclear, radiotheraphy, industrial radiography among others.