Government Allocates K626 Million to Ndola Nuclear and Cancer Center

The government have announced plans to allocate over K626 million for the construction of a nuclear and cancer centre in Ndola. This was revealed in a joint press briefing with the Ministry of Health and the Radiation Protection Authority yesterday. Health Minister Sylvia Masebo signed the contract to begin construction of the hospital in May last year.

Nuclear medicine therapy is a highly effective cancer treatment that uses radiopharmaceuticals—radioactive drugs—that bind to cancer cells and destroy them by delivering radiation directly. During the briefing, Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati lauded the country’s progress in harnessing nuclear technology to fight cancer. The new centre will play a crucial role in the treatment of cancer, with the government’s broader strategy focusing on decreasing the rates of cancer mortality and improving access to high-quality healthcare in the country.

Mutati unveiled the enforcement of two Statutory Instruments (SIs): the Ionising Radiation Protection (Nuclear Medicine) Regulations 2024 and the Ionising Radiation Protection (Radiotherapy) Regulations 2024. These measures are designed to support the management, safety, and security of radiation protection within the nation's healthcare infrastructure.

George Sinyangwe, Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination at the Ministry of Health, noted the significant impact of nuclear radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer, while reiterating the importance of strict safety standards when administering ionising radiation.

Christabel Reinke, Radiation Protection Board Chairperson, thanked the government for supporting initiatives focused on protecting the health and welfare of citizens and workers.