AFROSAFE is a radiation safety campaign developed by radiation health workers in Africa. It was launched at the eighth Pan African Congress of Radiology and Imaging (PACORI) in Feb 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.
AFROSAFE is a result of the Joint Position Statement by the IAEA and WHO known as the “Bonn Call-for-action”, in December 2015. AFROSAFE promotes adherence to global and national policies, guidelines, and actions for radiation safety, guided by the International Basic Safety Standards (BSS) and the Bonn Call for Action. It is under the umbrella of the African Society of Radiology (ASR) which is aligned with the European Society of Radiology (ESR). It has support from international partners like IAEA, WHO, EuroSafe, ESR, Image Gently, ISR, WFPI, ISRRT, and FAMPO amongst others.
Vision – All radiological medical procedures in Africa are beneficial.
Mission – To promote a favorable benefit-risk ratio in the application of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation for medical diagnostic and therapy interventions.
Objective – To unite the stakeholders with a common goal, to identify and address issues arising from radiation protection in medicine in Africa.
Goal – Encourage adherence to standards, policies, strategies, and activities for the promotion of radiation safety and for maximization of benefits from radiological medical procedures.
Strategies
– Strengthen radiation protection of patients, health workers, and the public.
- – Promote safe and appropriate use of ionizing radiation in medicine.
- – Foster improvement of the benefit-risk dialogue with patients and the public.
- – Enhance the safety and quality of radiological procedures in medicine.
- – Promote safety in radiological equipment and facilities.
- – Promote research in radiation protection and safety.
Achievement
- – Strengthen radiation protection of patients, health workers, and the public.
- – Promote safe and appropriate use of ionizing radiation in medicine.
- – Foster improvement of the benefit-risk dialogue with patients and the public.
- – Enhance the safety and quality of radiological procedures in medicine.
- – Promote safety in radiological equipment and facilities.
- – Promote research in radiation protection and safety.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- 1. Quality research papers on radiation protection and safety, Diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), and Paediatric Diagnostic reference levels (PiDRLs). Several publications from Africa in peer-reviewed journals on this subject have been completed.
- 2. Adopt and adapt Clinical Imaging Guidelines (CIGs) in Africa
- 3. Education, training, and research in radiation protection, quality, and safety- online webinars and short courses, E-learning materials on the ESR platform. Two PhD theses in Uganda, Makerere University are in RP namely “Adult Computed Tomography Radiation Doses in Uganda; A Precursor to Developing National Diagnostic Reference Levels” and “Impact of Imaging Referral Guidelines on Appropriateness of Computerized Tomography Requisitions for Children and Young Adults in Selected Hospitals in Uganda.”
- 4. Update equipment policy – For efficient acquisition, maintenance, and replacement
- 6. Quality and safety based on the GPS approach
- – Global: holistic approach including all steps
- – Personalized: clinical condition
- – Safe: equipment use and performance
- 6. Improved patient Communication. AFROSAFE is communicating about enhancing radiation risks associated with paediatric imaging procedures to healthcare providers and patients. The promotional tool is communicated to the radiologists, clinicians, and radiographers as well as other stakeholders. The societies that participated in writing this tool included ASR, PACORI, FAMPO, AfSPI, and ISRRT among others. There was training on the use of this tool at the Uganda Society for Imaging (USOFARI) 2016 annual scientific meeting when marking the International Day of Radiology in November 2016
- 7. Network of campaigns with other radiation-safety campaigns and radiology associations and part of the ISRQSA, a committee within the ISR responsible for quality and safety in is ISR.
- 8. Networking among African countries within the framework of AFROSAFE. This has resulted in a monthly online meeting to discuss issues in radiation safety, and collaborations in research plus sharing best practices among these countries.
Prof. Michael Kawooya – AFROSAFE ChairPerson
Dr. Rose Nyabanda – AFROSAFE Kenyan Champion Chapter
Advancing Education, Innovation, and Collaborations in Africa; Radiology for Better Healthcare Outcomes
