The Head of Nuclear Medicine at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Salah Eddine Bouyoucef, alongside Peter Knoll, has visited the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration in cancer care and nuclear medicine services.
The delegation,was received by the Acting Chief Medical Director of ABUTH, Mohammed Ibrahim, on behalf of the hospital’s management.
Welcoming the team, Prof. Ibrahim highlighted the hospital’s longstanding collaboration with the IAEA under the Federal Government’s National Cancer Control Programme. He noted that ABUTH was once a leading cancer treatment centre and remains a key referral facility in Northern Nigeria.
He appealed for increased support from the agency, particularly in staff training, retraining, and infrastructure development, stressing that the hospital’s nuclear medicine facility requires renovation to meet international standards.
A Consultant Nuclear Medicine Radiologist at ABUTH, Abubakar Lawal K/Bai, explained that nuclear medicine plays a crucial role in early diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer. He noted that it helps in determining the most suitable treatment options for patients, thereby improving outcomes.
Dr. Lawal also called on the IAEA to support the hospital with critical equipment, including SPECT/CT and PET/CT scanners, cyclotrons, a medical treadmill with accessories, and a cardiac defibrillator to ensure the smooth take-off of the unit.
In his remarks, Prof. Bouyoucef commended the hospital’s management for the opportunity to visit, noting that the IAEA promotes the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology globally. He added that the agency supports cancer diagnosis and treatment through technical cooperation, training, quality assurance in dosimetry, and the transfer of nuclear technology to developing countries.
The IAEA team toured key facilities within the hospital, including the Nuclear Medicine Complex, Radiotherapy and Oncology Department, and Radiology Department. Following the inspection, the delegation expressed satisfaction with what they observed and pledged continued support and collaboration with ABUTH.
The visit forms part of the IAEA’s scheduled mission to Nigeria, where it is engaging stakeholders in nuclear medicine across selected national institutions, with ABUTH among the key centres visited.