RPAZ Inspectors attend Training in Radiotherapy

HARARE: Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe Inspectors are being trained in inspecting radiotherapy facilities to sharpen skills and ensure the continued protection of those suffering from cancer and who are seeking treatment from the country’s two radiotherapy Centres at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo Hospitals.

RPAZ Chief Executive Officer, Mr Reward Severa said this in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Harare today. A total of 10 Radiation Inspectors are participating in the training programme.

Mr Severa reiterated that the training programme is empowering Radiation Scientists in conducting more thorough inspections of radiotherapy facilities to ensure the protection of people and the environment against effects of radiation.  “In other words the training programme is improving the capacity of our staff in terms of skills and competences in inspecting radiotherapy facilities,” he said.

He also pointed out that the radiotherapy industry is very dynamic and modernisation of equipment in use is always top priority and he said the government of Zimbabwe had recently procured new equipment for the country’s two radiotherapy centres at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo Hospital.  “Increased training is therefore required to enable Radiation inspectors to keep pace with technological developments in the inspection of radiotherapy facilities,” he said.

The five-day course is being facilitated by Dr Godfrey Azangwe, who is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics at the National University of Science and Technology, [NUST]. Also attending the course are four scientists from Zambia and Mozambique who are on an International Atomic Energy Agency   sponsored fellowship programme at RPAZ. As part of the training course, participants visited an upcoming, privately owned radiotherapy facility in Harare and the radiotherapy department at Parirenyatwa Hospital.