NIRPR HOLDS RSO’S TRAINING

NIRPR HOLDS RSO’S TRAINING

The National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research (NIRPR) trained Radiation Safety Officers (RSOs) and medical practitioners on Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. The training was held at the NIRPR office in Ibadan from 9th to 13th May, 2022.

The role of an RSO is to prevent unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation and maintain necessary exposures as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). An RSO is permitted to stop unsafe practices and identify radiation protection problems, initiate, recommend, provide corrective actions and verify implementation of these actions. The efforts of an RSO are focused on calculating and maintaining radiation doses to employees, patients and the public, largely in the health sector.

Dr. Samuel Oyeyemi, Acting Head of the Institute, who represented Dr. Yau Idris, DG/CEO NNRA stated that the training was focused on diagnostic and interventional radiology which is practice-specific. He explained that the medical training would focus on problem solving rather than just the provision of information so as to address prevailing challenges such as, the risks of cancer and other effects from the use of medical imaging procedures.

During the training, Participants were exposed to some of the equipment used in the practice and the resources available to the RSO to educate members of the medical community on the need to manage radiation doses to patients so that the physician is able to obtain information necessary to properly diagnose and treat patients while avoiding unnecessary exposure.

The training was carried out via zoom and physical participation and no fewer than 80 participants attending the two sessions of the two weeks training.

At end of the training, participants were able to understand the basic principles of radiation protection in diagnostic and interventional radiology. They were acquainted with the roles and duties of a Radiation Safety Officer. Participants also acquired knowledge on nuclear safety culture and how to institute it in their organization.

A short tour of facilities was carried out with test conducted. Certificates were finally presented to successful participants.