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Chitalu Chilufya – Health Minister
The Ministry of health says nuclear medicine has become an important tool in diagnosis and management of chronic and non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases as well the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
In a speech read on his behalf by the a ministry of health representative Dr Wezi Kaonga, at the regional training course on radiation protection safety in nuclear medicine, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya says significant strides in information technology have resulted improved radio pharmacy services in the country.
Dr. Chilufya says the nuclear medicine services are providing the much needed services to combat the rising cause of mortality and morbidity in the country and the world at large.
He however, notes that the use of nuclear medicine in the country has the potential to pose health concerns to personnel handling the radioactive sources, patients who undergo procedures involving ionizing radiation as well as the safety of the public and the environment.
Meanwhile Dr. Chilufya says government has future plans to start offering iodine -131 therapy for patients with thyroid cancer.
He has also disclosed that government will open other Nuclear Medicine Units in Ndola and Livingstone respectively.
And speaking at the same function, radiation protection specialist at the International Atomic Energy Agency Debbie Gilley has said that nuclear energy has so many health benefits, but should be coupled with safety considerations.
Ms. Gilley has since thanked the Zambian government for providing an enabling environment for the regional training course on radiation protection safety in nuclear medicine.