IAEA strengthens Brazil capability in cancer diagnosis

VIENNA, Nov 14 (KUNA) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced the delivering of an advanced digital mammography machine to the "Jojo de Barros Barreto" University Hospital in the Brazilian city of Belأ©m, as part of the Agency's "Rays of Hope" initiative aimed at strengthening countries' capacities in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
A statement issued today by the Agency's Media department said that the handover took place during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30), reaffirming the Agency's commitment to supporting healthcare systems and enhancing their resilience in the face of growing challenges.
The statement noted that the new device, equipped with advanced digital imaging technologies, will help expand the hospital's capacity to conduct examinations for more than 2,000 women annually in Belأ©m and various parts of the Amazon region.
"Joao de Barros Barreto" University Hospital is a public institution that provides free medical services, in addition to its role in education, research, and medical training.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in Brazil. According to estimates by the National Cancer Institute, around 73,610 new cases are expected in 2025, with an incidence rate of 66.5 cases per 100,000 women.
The statement quoted Raul Ramirez Garc?a, Head of the IAEA's Latin America and Caribbean Division, as saying during the event that the "Rays of Hope initiative supports countries like Brazil in building sustainable health systems capable of protecting women's health." For her part, Regina Feu Barroso, General Supervisor of the Federal University of Par? Hospital Complex, stressed that the arrival of the new device represents "an important step in strengthening women's health in the Amazon region.
The "Rays of Hope" initiative was launched by the IAEA in 2022 to expand access to cancer diagnosis and treatment in low- and middle-income countries. (end) am.ahs