Lomé, 26 June 2026 – Togo has taken a decisive step towards the safe commissioning of its state-of-the-art medical infrastructure with the successful closure of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) technical support and training mission. Carried out from 22 to 26 June 2026, this mission aimed to train and supervise the technical staff of the National Authority for Nuclear Safety and Security (ANSSN). The main objective was to consolidate the licensing and inspection processes for radiotherapy facilities equipped with linear accelerators (LINAC).
Led by Professor Zakaria Tahiri, an international expert from the IAEA, this intensive immersion brought together ANSSN executives, medical physicists and officials from the Ministry of Health in order to align national practices with the strictest international safety standards
Hands-on coaching focused on centres of excellence
At the heart of the methodological approach was a simulation of a pre-authorization inspection at the Dogta-Lafiè Reference Hospital. This state-of-the-art 160-bed facility, initiated by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) in the prefecture of Agoé-Nyivé (Grand Lomé), is designed as a medical center of excellence for oncology in Togo.
Although the radiotherapy equipment was not yet operational at the time of the mission, the inspectors were able to practice in real conditions under the supervision of the expert by focusing on the documentary verification and analysis of the safety of the facilities. The inspectors also received on-site training on measurement techniques, beam angle, collimation adjustment and conversion of instrument readings into realistic dose values.
The training was extended by practical work at the International Cancer Center of Lomé (CILC) in Lomé. This immersion allowed the participants to handle the radiological detection instruments, to carry out simulations of dose rate measurements and to validate the effectiveness of the radiological shielding of the treatment bunkers in accordance with IAEA recommendations.
Strong declarations for the future of health in Togo
Speaking at the opening meeting, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health stressed the crucial importance of this support for the country:
"This mission, focused on the operational application of nuclear regulations, aims to provide a framework for the peaceful, safe and secure use of nuclear technologies and their applications in Togo."
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Health also welcomed this initiative, highlighting the strategic importance of this mission for the overall improvement of the quality of care and medical safety in Togo.
Heading for nuclear medicine
The mission concluded with the collaborative development of a modernized pre-authorization inspection checklist and the structuring of future inspection reports. Faced with the short-term establishment of a nuclear medicine department with a SPECT-CT system in Togo, the expert recommended that the ANSSN prioritize the continuous training and regulatory preparation of the authorization activities of this new medical specialty, in parallel with the deployment of radiotherapy.