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Journal of Medical Physics and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2574-285X

I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n

Nuclear Medicine &

Radiation Therapy

Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Therapy 2018

O c t o b e r 0 1 - 0 2 , 2 0 1 8

S t o c k h o l m , S w e d e n

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine that utilises the tracer principle. It uses radiopharmaceuticals to evaluate molecular,

metabolic, physiological and pathological conditions of the body for diagnosis, treatment and research purpose. Nuclear

medicine has clinical applications in almost all body systems, for example, oncologic, gastrointestinal, renal, cardiac, skeletal

and endocrine systems. In Kenya, nuclear medicine is mostly practised in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Currently, Kenya

has a population of about 50.76 million. Every year around 41,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed, with 28,500 related deaths.

80% of cancer cases are always diagnosed at late stages or at incurable stages. This is largely attributed to the limitations of

nuclear medicine in the country. Kenya is currently facing a number challenges in the successful practise and application of

nuclear medicine. Kenya has only two nuclear medicine facilities namely; Kenyatta National Hospital and Aga Khan University

Hospital with limited nuclear medicine personnel. In addition, nuclear medicine is relatively a new medical field in the country

and very few people are aware of it. There is also local unavailability of radioisotope and kits, since Kenya doesn’t manufacture

radiopharmaceuticals and the kits required instead they are imported from developed nations e.g. USA and South Africa. Kenya

also experiences unstable power supply, which has an adverse effect on equipment, leading to frequent machine breakdown and

shortened lifespan. Furthermore, there are not more than ten nuclear medicine physicians, medical physicists, nuclear medicine

technologists, radiologists, and radio pharmacists in the country. This is caused by lack of local training and research in the field

of nuclear medicine. Radiation safety and waste management is another daunting task in the nuclear medicine therapy. Above all,

the cost of accessing nuclear medicine services is expensive thus causing patients not to seek for the services.

maxwellsonga@yahoo.com

Limitations and possible solutions of nuclear

medicine in Kenya

Maxwell Songa

Radiation Protection Board (RPB), Republic of Kenya

J. med phys & appl sci 2018, Volume: 3

DOI: 10.21767/2574-285X-C1-003