IAEA evaluates activities of National radiation protection agency

The mission for the assessment of regulatory infrastructure began Monday in Yaoundé. Radiation protection is the set of measures taken to ensure the protection of man and the environment against the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

In Cameroon, 700 workers are exposed to such radiation, according to an inventory of the National Agency for radiation protection in Cameroon (WRNI), infrastructure support of radiation and radiation safety in Cameroon.

This is the reason for which such infrastructure is essential in a country that uses nuclear technologies in areas such as medicine, industry, agriculture and research.

To promote and maintain the regulatory infrastructure radiation and radiation safety in accordance with its security standards, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has implemented a tool of external evaluation of regulatory infrastructure for radiation protection activities: Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS).

Thus, nine IAEA experts will spend ten days in Cameroon to carry out the mission of evaluation which started Monday in Yaoundé. The goal is to make a review of the regulatory activities of the WRNI in accordance with the principles and the IAEA safety standards. Expected results: improve the regulatory infrastructure and the strengthening of its credibility on the national and international levels.

WRNI director-general Dr. Augustin Simo supported: "The IAEA team of Auditors has meet the WRNI to assess all of the fields of activities of the ARNP in all areas."

The inspector general of the Department of scientific research and Innovation, Roger Noël Iroume, said: "the legal instruments will be strengthened and applied to safety and security requirements.