Presented by George Ishiekwene, Ph.D. LIBERIA ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presented by George Ishiekwene, Ph.D. LIBERIA ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY Inc. (LAEA)

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About LAEA

A Technical Scientific Support Organization

 promotes Guidelines and Principles of International

Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

 coordinates IAEA technical cooperation activities in

Liberia

 Provides Services in areas of 1.

Safety, Security and Safeguards of Radiation Activities and Materials

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Atomic and Nuclear Energy for peaceful and healthy purposes

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Some Definitions

Electromagnetic Radiation: A light wave in motion

 Ionizing Radiation

High energy radiation: X-rays, Gamma rays

 Non-ionizing Radiation Relatively low energy radiation: Visible Light, Radio waves

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Uses of Ionizing Radiation

 Ionizing radiation sources are widely used in:

 Medicine  Agriculture  Industry  Research and Education  Security checks  …

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Brain Teaser

So, imagine if there were no regulations in the transportation industry (land and air) N0 Guidelines, No Policy, No laws, No Regulators

 Aircrafts  Cars  Kekehs  Motorbikes

Leads to increased vulnerability High likely hood of accidents and high impact chaos HIGH RISK!!!!

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Liberia Situation

 No Atomic and Nuclear Energy Policy  No National Nuclear and Radiation Act  No Nuclear and Radiation Regulatory Authority  No Law on Radiation Protection  No Inventory on Radiation Sources

• Bottom line: Liberia arguably has “no” regulation in radiation

industry

• Is it reasonable to conclude there may exist high vulnerability and

high risks in our radiation industry???????

• Or, our case defies logic – no radiation incidents

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Some Reported Incidents

Medical Exposure

 Workers

• Dose to the lens of the eyes

 Public

• Care givers

 Patients

• misadministration of radio-pharmaceuticals
• miscalibration/miscalculation of dose for radiotherapy
• bracytherapy sources left in patient
• overexposure during interventional procedures

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Reasons for Guidelines

• Ensure compliance of new equipment with its

specification on installation

• Monitor continuous use of equipment to institute

remedial actions if necessary

• Managing equipment after its lifespan

 Good practice with respect to equipment handling  Satisfactory performance of equipment used  Safety measures in the operation of radiation sources  Protection of patients and others to medical exposure

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Stakeholders

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1.

Health Care Agencies and Professional Bodies

• 2. Hospitals, Clinics, and Other Institutions
• 3. Medical Practitioners and Medical Physicists
• 4. Radiographers and Clinical Technologists
• 5. Staff and Other Agents
• 6. Health Service Management Professionals
• 7. Regulators

All of whom have a role in the deployment of equipment for use with patients

Proposed Draft Guidelines

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for the Control of Medical Exposure of Radiation Sources in Liberia Scope and

 Notification  Authorization  Inspection, and  Enforcement

Content

 Qualitative Criteria  Quantitative Criteria

Review Process for Guidelines

Stakeholders

 Experts from Relevant Professions, Professional

Bodies, Industry, Standards Organizations and International Organizations Process

 Technical Meetings  Validation to Adopt Guidelines

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