Leadership and innovations to improve quality imaging and radiation safety in Africa

Abstract

Most of the African communities are rural and have poor access to general healthcare and diagnostic imaging. There is a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, including radiologists, ultrasonographers, radiographers and medical physicists, especially in the rural areas. Other challenges for the region include work volume, population exposure, equipment, imaging budget and awareness in radiation safety and protection. To address these challenges and to improve quality radiology and radiation safety in Africa, the regional leaders initiated a range of innovative actions. These actions are discussed, including detailed examples focusing on the capacity building of imaging professionals by education and training and the strengthening of region-wide radiation protection regulatory framework by collaboration. The authors aim to share this experience so that actions could be replicated in other regions if appropriate. The stakeholders work together by collaboration, advocacy, experience sharing, mutual assistance, and maximizing resources to improve awareness; education and training; provision of tools and guidance; radiation safety and radiation protection; system infrastructure and the implementation of effective policies. The leaders from the professional organizations, institutions and regulatory authorities play important roles to improve the access to quality imaging and radiation safety in Africa.