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Africa ALARA Network (AFAN) and International Atomic Energy Agency organize Webinars for its members

Dr. Francis Otoo

Senior Research Scientist 

Radiation Protection Institute, GAEC

AFAN with the aim enhancing the appropriate knowledge in the areas of personal monitoring, the importance of laboratory accreditation and building a strong network for the member state in Africa has since its formation organized a series of Webinar to share relevant information with it members  

Since February 2020, AFAN in collaboration with IAEA has jointly organized three webinars in with five (5) presenters from four (4) countries namely China, Ghana, Cuban and Cote D’Ivoire. The first and second webinars focussed on experiences of National Dose Registry in China, Ghana, Cuban and Cote D’Ivoire while the third webinar emphasized the importance of Laboratory accreditation in Africa.

The webinar attracted more than fifty (50) participants. In attendance also were Dr. Joseph. K. Amoako, Deputy RPI/GAEC and AFAN Secretary and Moderator for the webinars, Mr. Jizeng Ma, IAEA, Mr. Roman Abutalipov, IAEA and webinar host, Mr. Burcin Okyer of the IAEA  and Mr. Pascal Deboodt of Belgium. Other IAEA administrative staff also a participant in the Webinars which were extremely successful. AFAN is planning to organize additional webinars on other relevant subjects in the course of the year. 

Find below the details of the presenters and the videos for the webinars.

Wednesday, 19th February 2020

1. Development and operation of the NDR system in China 

Mr. Jun Deng

Head of Radiation Monitoring Information Center

National Institute for Radiological Protection,

CHINA CDC NIRP, China,

Presentation: 

2. Experiences on the establishment of the NDR system in Ghana 

Ms. Edith A. Amoatey

Research Scientist

Radiation Protection Institute

Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

Videos: http://ns-files.iaea.org/video/ORP-webinar-AFAN1.mp4

Wednesday, 26th February 2020

3. Development and operation of the NDR system in Latin America region 

Ms. Maryzury Valdés Ramos

Head of Management Team of National Dose Register of Cuba 

Member of Development Team from the Prototype of National Dose Register for Latin America 

Head of Informatics and Network Services Group

Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene (CPHR),

HAVANA, CUBA,

3. Experiences on the establishment of the NDR system in Cote D’Ivoire.

Mr Kouakou Brou Mathurin

Autorité de Radioprotection, de sureté et de sécurité nucléaires

ABIDJAN, COTE D’IVOIRE

Videos:  http://ns-files.iaea.org/video/ORP-webinar-AFAN2.mp4

March 25, 2020, at 14:00 Vienna time

5 Testing laboratory accreditation program in Africa region. 

Mr. Mustapha Tawiah Kumah

Director-General 

Ghana National Accreditation Service,

Accra, Ghana

Two officers from the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority were trained in Accra, Ghana from the 1^st to 4^th July 2019 on the application of the National Dose Registry (NDR) software.

The NDR is a personnel dose management software developed by the National Institute for Radiological Protection of China.

The two officers, namely, Mr. Innocent Okporo and Mr. Umar Mustapha Garba were trained on the software by Ms. Edith A. Amoatey a Scientist of Radiation Protection Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission while Dr. Joseph K. Amoako, the AFAN Secretary/Treasurer coordinated their visit.

What constitutes a good approach to radiation safety culture?

The following points could be used to incorporate suitable questions into general inspection regimes, to develop metrics for inclusion in Standards, and to input into training at all levels. Each ‘Culture factor’ has a number of suggested performance indicators that might be used to assess it.

1. Engagement of Management

The exercise was organized under the IAEA regional Technical Cooperation project on occupational radiation protection, RAF 9057 “Strengthening National Capabilities on Occupational Radiation Protection in Compliance with Requirements of the New International Basic Safety Standards”. The exercise was hosted by the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in the Centre de Recherche Nucléaire d’Alger (CRNA); Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique (COMENA) of Algeria. 21 dosimetry systems from 19 Member States in the region participated in the exercise. Until today, the SSDL in Algeria has successfully hosted three consecutive regional intercomparison exercises in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

The Working Group Meeting to review the results of the regional intercomparison

The Regional Meeting on the Organization and Implementation of the National Dose Registry (NDR) was organized by the Government of Botswana through the Radiation Protection Inspectorate, in Gaborone, Botswana, 13-17

The Regional Meeting on the Organization and Implementation of the National Dose Registry (NDR) was organized by the Government of Botswana through the Radiation Protection Inspectorate, in Gaborone, Botswana, 13-17

The Working Group Meeting to review the results of the regional intercomparison exercise on individual monitoring in the African region, was held 25-27 February 2019 in the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

The meeting was attended by experts from Algeria, Ghana and Tanzania. The experts performed a review of the results of the regional intercomparison exercise, delivered guidance for future improvements in the area of individual monitoring for external exposure and proposed an action plan for future intercomparison exercises. After reviewing the results of the exercise, the experts concluded that the exercise was very successful and had reached its goal.

The objective of the exercise was to assess the capabilities of the dosimetry services in the region to measure the quantity Hp (10) in photon (gamma and X ray) fields, thus supporting participating Member States to achieve a more accurate dosimetry service and to provide MSs with guidelines to improve the performance of the existing dosimetry services.

The exercise was organized under the IAEA regional Technical Cooperation project on occupational radiation protection, RAF 9057 “Strengthening National Capabilities on Occupational Radiation Protection in Compliance with Requirements of the New International Basic Safety Standards”. The exercise was hosted by the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) in the Centre de Recherche Nucléaire d’Alger (CRNA); Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique (COMENA) of Algeria. 21 dosimetry systems from 19 Member States in the region participated in the exercise. Until today, the SSDL in Algeria has successfully hosted three consecutive regional intercomparison exercises in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Individual monitoring for external exposure is one of the key elements in the country profile for occupational radiation protection. With the support of the Agency, many Member States have established dosimetry service laboratories. There is a strong demand from the Member States to strengthen the quality management system for the monitoring service. The regional intercomparsion exercise is an important approach to help the dosimetry service laboratories to check the status of their quality management system.

The experts proposed to have the next regional intercomparison exercise in 2020.

 For further information please contact Occupational Protection