Six newly recruited staff of the Radiation Protection Board Secretariat have graduated after going through a two week intensive induction course on Radiation Protection, sponsored by the Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), at the Bumbuna Conference Room, 5th Floor, and Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown between 11th-22nd August 2009.
The Chairman of the Radiation Protection Board, Dr. T.R.B. Yormah explained the importance of the course to the beneficiaries, the University and the nation as a whole adding that it will assist the six scientists to make meaningful contributions to achieve the Presidents’ dream in preventing the dangers of radioactive activities.
The Chief Radiation Protection Officer and Executive Secretary of the Radiation Protection Board Secretariat within the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Josephus J. Kongo said the course is a special training in radiation protection to better prepare the recruited staff for the challenges they would face in regulating the use of radiation. He added the training is just the beginning.
Mr. Kongo explained that 38 applicants applied and 35 were short listed to face an examination out of which 18 were called to the interviews and only 5 applicants braved and passed the final selection process. He said five scientists and one technician, finally benefited from the training. He said this training will now better prepare the recruited staff to face the dangers of being exposed to radiation hazards.
Mr. Kongo added that there is need for additional training and asked the Government, the University and Donor Agencies to assist. He said the cost of any training on the subject matter is very expensive and this makes it impossible to get frequent training on radiation protection. He however promised to organize another training course for Safety Officers of the Radiation facilities which at present lack trained safety officers before the end of the year.
The Chief Radiation Officer expressed hope for the training of Safety Officers within the near future but pointed out that the present operation of his division was faced with hiccups because there were no trained officers. He said the secretariat at the moment has one old utility vehicle to move officers to operational areas in the country, which is more often than not off the road than on it due to frequent breakdown.
Mr. Kongo also spoke of nuclear security and its relationship with the just concluded training, saying that these trained Officers will soon be deployed in various operational areas countrywide.
Giving an overview of the course, IAEA Expert, Dr. Josef Sabol explained that the course is an information sharing programme which must be practiced. He said the recruits will use the information acquired to provide protection for the general public, workers, patients at diagnostic X-Ray Departments and the environment against the harmful effects of radiation which could cause cancer. He mentioned this training will enable the recruits to monitor radiation effectively, but they still need to have adequate training in radiation protection.
In distributing the certificates and the Programme CD ROMs to the recruited scientists, the Minister of Energy and Water resources, Prof. Ogunlade R. Davidson enticed the recruited scientists to work as a team. He told them to help in improving the sector within the country, cooperate with authorities and treat the affected populace with respect.
Prof. Davidson then admonished the newly recruited scientists not to misuse the certificates but work assiduously to solve problems and improve the lives of the people. He also advised the Fourah College Students offering Physics who were invited to occupy the back seats to make good use of the knowledge gained during the training.
The Deputy Minister Martin Bash Kamara thanked the newly recruited scientists (Abdulai A. Kargbo, Ibrahim Kabba, Michael A Kaloko, Derrick I Dunn, Umaru R. Bun-Tejan and Gershon E.A. Williams), the Government of Sierra Leone, the University of Sierra Leone, the Radiation Protection Board Secretariat and the IAEA experts prof. Cyril Standoff and Dr. Josef Sabol for making the programme a success.
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