IAEA Chief to Launch Initiative to Promote Cancer Care for All at Joint Event with Current and Incoming AU Chair

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will on Friday, World Cancer Day, announce the launch of an IAEA initiative to fight cancer at a joint event co-hosted by President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the current Chairperson of the African Union, and Senegal’s President Macky Sall, the incoming Chairperson.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), will also address the event held on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative will help provide cancer care in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and other parts of the world now lacking such capacities. The IAEA will work closely with donors and recipient countries to establish facilities for delivering radiotherapy, medical imaging and nuclear medicine services which are critical for detecting and treating a disease which kills millions of people every year.

The high-level event “Rays of Hope” will take place between 16:00 and 16:35 EAT (14:00 and 14:35 CET) in Medium Conference Hall (NCC) at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa. It will be followed by a photo opportunity. After the event, Director General Grossi will hold a press conference about the initiative starting at 16:35 EAT in the same room. Journalists can attend in person or via the livestream link that will be available on the IAEA website.

Accreditation:

Journalists interested in joining the livestream of the press conference and/or the high-level side event do not need to register.

Journalists interested in attending the high-level side event or the press conference in person should be accredited by the African Union. For more information, please go to the AU Summit website.

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency