More cancer patients across Africa are finally getting the care they need, thanks to the Rays of Hope initiative from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At a recent forum in Addis Ababa, leaders and doctors talked about how this program is making a real difference by helping countries set up medical imaging, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine services—things many people have never had access to before, according to a press release.
Rays of Hope launched in Ethiopia just three years ago, and already over 90 countries have reached out for support. “Cancer is a top cause of death in Africa, taking 2,000 lives a day,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. He pointed out that countries once left behind are now starting to build up real cancer care.
Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh of Ethiopia urged everyone at the forum to work together and invest more, so “no child dies from a treatable cancer, no mother waits endlessly for a diagnosis, and no nation is left behind.” Ministers from Benin, Congo, Lesotho, Senegal, Botswana, and Kenya also spoke about how Rays of Hope is helping their communities fight cancer.
Donor countries like Germany, Italy, Japan, and France shared why supporting this work matters. Their backing helps bring vital cancer services to places that had almost nothing before.
