
The PAs provide a framework for collaboration in the area of capacity building for nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, or any allied disciplines, particularly for professionals from French-speaking countries. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)
The finalization and signing of these PAs are the latest development in a shared history of successful collaboration between the Agency and the SFMN which stretches back more than a decade.
In recent years the SFMN has invited IAEA experts to participate in its Annual Meetings and helped to host and place IAEA fellows into clinical and scientific research centres across France. In particular, the SFMN trained five African fellows in 2017, through the National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN) platform.
Additionally, the SFMN has supported the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme through the identification of French-speaking experts and cost-free experts, who in turn have supported Africa Member States as they draft and subsequently adopt clinical protocols for expanding the scope of nuclear medicine services and capabilities.
The Practical Arrangements will provide new opportunities to not only strengthen nuclear medicine capacities in the region, but to establish new collaborative avenues in other, related support areas for nuclear medicine, such as mentorship, networking, building remote or virtual training systems, the use and development of software platforms and data management.