Radiological impact assessment of natural radioactivity in soil and water in Cape Coast North, Central Region of Ghana.

The objective of the study is to evaluate natural radioactivity and its radiological impact on the health of the populace within Cape Coast North. Soil and water samples were taken and analysed using a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Results for the average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples range from 15.0 to 60.8 Bq/kg with a mean of 20.9 ± 7.2 Bq/kg, 16.3 to 97.2 Bq/kg with a mean of 43.8 ± 2.4 Bq/kg, and 4.7 to 411.4 Bq/kg with an average of 140.6 ± 4.2 Bq/kg, respectively. The absorbed dose rate in air and outdoor annual effective dose to the public were estimated to be 46.6 nGyh-1 and 0.1 mSv, respectively, which fell below the recommended average. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in water samples were 1.4, 0.4, and 1.2 Bq/L, respectively. The annual effective dose is 0.4 mSv, which is greater than the WHO recommended level of 0.1 mSv/y.

National inventory of authorized diagnostic imaging equipment in Ghana: data as of September 2020.

Introduction: to address the challenge of inadequate and non-equitable distribution of diagnostic imaging equipment, countries are encouraged to evaluate the distribution of installed systems and undertake adequate monitoring to ensure equitability. Ghana´s medical imaging resources have been analyzed in this study and evaluated against the status in other countries. Methods: data on registered medical imaging equipment were retrieved from the database of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority and analyzed. The equipment/population ratio was mapped out graphically for the 16 regions of Ghana. Comparison of the equipment/population ratio was made with the situation in other countries. Results: six hundred and seventy-four diagnostic imaging equipment units from 266 medical imaging facilities (2.5 units/facility), comprising computed tomography (CT), general X-ray, dental X-ray, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) gamma camera, fluoroscopy, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were surveyed nationally. None of the imaging systems measured above the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average imaging units per million populations (u/mp). The overall equipment/population ratio estimated nationally was 21.4 u/mp. Majority of the imaging systems were general X-ray, installed in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. The regional estimates of equipment/population ratios were Greater Accra (49.6 u/mp), Ashanti (22.4 u/mp), Western (21.4 u/mp), Eastern (20.6 u/mp), Bono East (20.0 u/mp), Bono (19.2 u/mp), Volta (17.9 u/mp), Upper West (16.7 u/mp), Oti (12.5 u/mp), Central (11.9 u/mp), Northern (8.9 u/mp), Ahafo (8.9 u/mp), Upper East (6.9 u/mp), Western North (6.7 u/mp), Savannah (5.5 u/mp) and North-East (1.7 u/mp). Conclusion: medical imaging equipment shortfall exist across all imaging modalities in Ghana. A wide inter-regional disparity in the distribution of medical imaging equipment exists contrary to WHO´s recommendation for equitable distribution. A concerted national plan will be needed to address the disparity.

Investigation of the status of occupational radiation protection in Malawian hospitals.

Background: The main objective of this study was to explore the occupational radiation protection program in three hospitals in Malawi and discover how radiation protection measures for workers are being implemented in their radiology departments. Method: A questionnaire was administered to heads of X-ray departments for Kamuzu Central Hospital, Bwaila Hospital and Mtengo wa Nthenga Hospital to investigate occupational radiation protection practices in their departments. Results: The study discovered that hospitals lack radiation protection programs which covers a number of critical issues including quality assurance and personnel dose monitoring. Conclusion: The implementation of basic elements of occupational radiation protection in Malawian hospitals is inadequate.

Radiation Protection, Safety and Security Issues in Ghana.

Although the use of radioisotopes in Ghana began in 1952, the Radiation Protection Board of Ghana was established in 1993 and served as the national competent authority for authorization and inspection of practices and activities involving radiation sources until 2015. The law has been superseded by an Act of Parliament, Act 895 of 2015, mandating the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of Ghana to take charge of the regulation of radiation sources and their applications. The Radiation Protection Institute in Ghana provided technical support to the regulatory authority. Regulatory and service activities that were undertaken by the Institute include issuance of permits for handling of a radiation sources, authorization and inspection of radiation sources, radiation safety assessment, safety assessment of cellular signal towers, and calibration of radiation-emitting equipment. Practices and activities involving application of radiation are brought under regulatory control in the country through supervision by the national competent authority.