In expanding the network’s reach and impact, the IAEA welcomed:
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Australia;
- University of S?o Paulo and Hospital das Clínicas Group in Brazil;
- National Cancer Institute — Cairo University in Egypt;
- North Estonia Medical Centre in Estonia;
- Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar;
- Oncology Institute Vojvodina? in Serbia.
“Peter Mac is a world-leading cancer research education and treatment centre dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer,” said Ian David Grainge Biggs, Australia’s Resident Representative to the IAEA and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna, during the side event. “This designation will contribute to the improvement of adequate access to affordable and quality treatment in our region.”
“It is a great pleasure for us,” said Francisco Rondinelle, Jr., President of Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission. “The Institute of Radiotherapy and the Institute of Cancer of Brazil in S?o Paulo have done very good work [and provided] assistance to [the] Brazilian population and I’m sure that this partnership with enhance these activities.”
“This milestone builds on the [National Cancer] Institute’s legacy as the oldest and largest comprehensive academic cancer centre in the Middle East since 1969 and on its longstanding cooperation with the IAEA including its role as a Collaborating Centre for cancer control and radiation research from 2019 to 2023,” said Mohamed Ibrahim Nasr, Egypt's Resident Representative to the IAEA and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna. “Importantly, its unique position allows it to connect both Africa and the Middle East, bringing together expertise, training and outreach across the two regions that are central to the mission of Rays of Hope.”
“Becoming an Anchor Centre is a motivation for our oncologists,” said Agris Peedu, Chairman of the Board of North Estonia Medical Centre. “We have had a very long and good cooperation with the Agency... [By] becoming an Anchor Centre, we will continue with the cooperation for several years.”
“We are happy to accommodate whatever numbers that we can to help,” said Mohamed Salem Al Hassan, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the National Center for Cancer Care and Research and Chairman of Corporate Cancer Services at Hamad Medical Corporation. “Already in our cancer hospital in Qatar, [we have been] treating with the Agency for a long time [and have been] accepting students and teaching them.”
“This is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Maja Gojkovi?, President of the Provincial Government of Vojvodina in Serbia. “We look forward to further cooperation with leading radiotherapy centres. We thank the Agency for [its] trust and support.”
