EVENT INVITATION: Toward Medical LINAC Service Hub in the ECOWAS Region

Dear colleague,

The Accra-based African Center for Science and International Security in Ghana would like to invite you to attend the following technical discussion meeting:

Toward LINAC Service Hub for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Wednesday 1 August – 09:00 to Thursday 2 August – 15:00

Accra, Ghana

This two-day meeting will bring together a West African audience comprising medical LINAC operators and engineers, radiotherapy departments heads, and policy- and decision-makers in regulatory authorities, key hospitals, public health ministry to exchange views and ideas to help develop a roadmap to establish a LINAC service centre and to develop appropriate maintenance contracts. Representatives from other stakeholder groups including device manufacturers, professional associations, regional organisations or initiatives and representatives from select foreign entities interested in cancer research, security issues, and investment in technology opportunities will also be invited.

The consultation is meant to stimulate regional cooperation and private sector involvement to strengthen nuclear and radiological security norms while increasing patient access to radiotherapy and improved cancer care. Day one will examine incentives to encourage private sector investment in public-private partnerships to establish a regional hub to maintain an inventory of spare parts and to provide maintenance services. The meeting will allow participants to gain specific regional perspectives and better understand what model could meet the expectations of manufacturers and African stakeholders. We view this as an essential exercise because the nuclear security initiatives on the adoption of replacement technologies for external beam therapy (LINACs for cobalt-60 machines) must be both relevant to the local context and sustainable. On day two, there will be interactive discussions based on shared lessons and best practices to foster common request for educational, technical, and expert assistance based on specific shared needs that will help linac manufacturers, ICEC and the IAEA with future planning to address the cancer problem.

This meeting is being held in partnership with the USA-based International Cancer Expert Corps (ICEC) in Washington. Varian Medical Systems in Switzerland is the primary funder.

Attendance at this closed-door event is by invitation only.

Register>

Best wishes,

Hubert Foy
Director of Research and Development
African Center for Science and International Security

Contact

Princess Apenteng
Administrator, African Center for Science and International Security, Accra
+233 245 744 363
[email protected]