IAEA Ramps Up Commitment to Advance Development and Cancer Care Across Africa

The IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative aims to widen access to life-saving cancer care where it is needed most; by helping low- and middle-income countries establish or expand medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine services. Since its launch in 2022, more than 90 countries have requested support under the initiative.??

Malawi has already built it’s first-ever public radiotherapy centre (see below), while Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti and?Lesotho are also in the process of establishing radiotherapy services. Linear accelerators for radiotherapy have been delivered to Kenya, Malawi, Niger and Paraguay. More than 80 cancer care professionals have been trained around the world, and 12?Rays of Hope Anchor Centres?have been set up.?

The Director General’s trip began in Addis Ababa at the Rays of Hope Forum, a gathering of countries taking stock of achievements made and planning vital next steps.?

During the forum, the IAEA and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital also entered a?significant new partnership?to address inequality in global childhood cancer care.?

Read more about the Rays of Hope Forum?here.

While in Ethiopia the Director General met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali to talk health and energy.?

.@IAEAorg's support to Ethiopia spans health, food security and energy, including new mammography units, nuclear medicine services at Black Lion Hospital, and SMR plans.
As I told PM @AbiyAhmedAli during @IAEAorg’s #RaysOfHope Forum in Addis Ababa, ???? can keep counting on us. pic.twitter.com/RArS8KfWGi

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 30, 2025

Mr Grossi joined Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera and Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe to open the country’s first public radiotherapy centre.?

“This is a major milestone under Rays of Hope, which supported the centre with life-saving equipment,” said the Director General.

A milestone under @IAEAorg’s #RaysOfHope: Malawi opens its first public radiotherapy centre.
Thanks to @MalawiGovt’s @LAZARUSCHAKWERA for the collaboration that helped make this possible.
We also agreed on great potential for #Atoms4Food to boost nutrition in ????. pic.twitter.com/26TZ93vinV

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) July 2, 2025

During his ensuing visit to Kenya, the Director General met with Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale and other key members of the government. They exchanged views on support received so far and the importance of facilitating further training for Kenyans working in cancer care.

.@IAEAorg supports Kenya’s efforts to decentralize cancer care, with LINACs delivered to Nakuru & Mombasa via #RaysOfHope, and more to come.
In Nairobi, met ???? @MOH_Kenya @HonAdenDuale & @ForeignOfficeKE @SingoeiAKorir to exchange on next steps, incl. training and human capital. pic.twitter.com/AOxBpjXTgl

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) July 3, 2025

Mr Grossi visited Monrovia, Liberia, marking the first time an IAEA Director General has ever been to the West African country.??

“Today, with Rays of Hope support, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the country’s only radiotherapy facility. We are helping establish it, starting with a mammography unit and training to bring life-saving care to those who need it most. More support will soon be on the way,” said the Director General.??

Mr Grossi met with President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Acting Foreign Minister Cllr. Deweh Grey, Health Minister Louise Kpoto, and several other ministers at the Environmental Protection Agency.??

Beyond cancer care, the IAEA is also strengthening food security through Atoms4Food, reinforcing radiation safety, supporting sustainable water management, as well as Liberia’s national energy strategy.??

As a marine country, Liberia faces ocean acidification and plastic pollution. “Nuclear science, including support through our NUTEC Plastics, can help protect its coasts and communities,” said the Director General. “There is much more we can do together. The IAEA is here, ready to continue supporting Liberia’s development in all its aspects.”?

During the week, the Director General also travelled to Rwanda to attend the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (#NEISA2025) in Kigali.?

Several countries in Africa are considering nuclear power as a clean, reliable & accessible energy option.
At @NEISAfrica’s Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa #NEISA2025 in Kigali ????, I saw a continent ready to act, and the @IAEAorg is ready to support. pic.twitter.com/1W7ytgD69x

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) July 1, 2025

At the summit, the Director General also met with both Rwanda and Niger’s Prime Ministers to talk about support for smart agriculture and water management via Atoms4Food.??