Agency says vital treatment tools still lacking in many countries
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have signed an agreement to join efforts in the fight against cervical cancer.
This disease kills over 310,000 women every year, particularly affecting those living with HIV in developing countries, the IAEA said.
This disease kills over 310,000 women every year, particularly affecting those living with HIV in developing countries, the IAEA said.
Radiotherapy is a key tool to eliminate tumours, but access to this vital treatment option is lacking in many countries, the agency said
According to the IAEA’s directory of radiotherapy centres, one-third of low- and middle-income countries do not have adequate radiation medicine services to meet patient needs, with 28 countries in Africa alone, not currently having a single radiotherapy unit.
The IAEA’s director-general Mr Grossi recently described this fact as a “scandal” and said the agency “can do a lot in this respect.”
The agreement aims to support national programmes and the mobilisation of resources to expand prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, research and activities to raise awareness on the disease, said the IAEA.
