The Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) held a five-day training workshop from September 27 to October 1, 2021, for Radiographers and X-ray Technicians in radiation protection and safety.
The objective of the workshop was to equip Radiographers and X-ray Technicians with the techniques of dealing with risks associated with excessive radiation exposure and update practitioners on the right protocols and procedures when performing such radiographic procedures.
Facilitators took the participants through topics including Occupational Radiation Protection, National Regulatory Requirements for Control of Radiation Sources, Quality Management System of Radiological Facilities and Activities, Safety and Security of Radiation Sources, Radioactive Waste Management, Radiation Protection in Diagnostic Radiology, Patient Dose Assessment & Image Quality, Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety, among others.
Addressing the participants at the workshop, the Director General of GAEC, Prof. Benjamin Jabez Botwe in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Director of RPI, Dr. Joseph K. Amoako said that the evolving nature of medicine with so many advancements in technology has compelled the continuous training of Radiographers to equip them with the necessary knowledge in radiation protection and safety.
He, therefore, noted that as part of efforts to enhance the capacity and ensure the intelligibility of Radiographers in modern medicine, the RPI as a licensed Technical Service Organization (TSO) has been given the authority to provide technical and training services to personnel in medical, industrial and research radiation activities in Ghana.
“RPI is now positioned to provide scientific, technical support and training in Health Physics, including Occupational Radiation Protection, Public Exposure, Nuclear Safety and Security as well as Radioactive Waste Management. It also undertakes research, development and technical training services in Non–ionizing radiation protection” he said.
Prof. Botwe urged the participants to avail themselves to the training so that they can be fully acquaint themselves with the current and relevant issues of radiation protection and safety in medicine.
“It is my fervent hope that the objectives of this training course will be fully achieved by the end of the training. You will be taken through an elaborate syllabus in radiation protection and safety and also given a hands-on training at our Personnel Dosimetry Laboratory and Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory. You will be also be provided with a GAEC Ionizing Radiation Safety Training Manual” he added.
Speaking on the sidelines of the programme, the Manager in charge of training at RPI, Dr. Stephen Inkoom, said that the hands-on training sessions would be given to the participants at selected facilities including laboratories of GAEC and the University of Ghana Medical Center.
“We will take our participants to the X-ray and Imaging Departments so that the main parameters which have implications for patient dose will be exposed to them. Parameters such as the choice of kVp and mAs which have implications for patient dose will be looked at, because for any medical exposure, the first thing is justification by a physician, then the Imaging Technologist or Radiographer would have to carry out the exposure”, he added.
Dr. Inkoom indicated that this years Training Course has been granted ten (10) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points by the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), Ghana.
The participants were from the Ghana Health Service, Regional and District Hospitals across Ghana, Specialist Hospitals, and Private Diagnostic and Imaging Centers, and a foreign participant from Swaziland among others.
Source: www.gaecgh.org
