As announced last month, a network of gastroenterologists in radiation protection was established by the IAEA during a meeting held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 8-10 April 2010 for gastroenterologists from Latin American countries. The activity is supported by a Technical Cooperation project of the IAEA (RLA/9067). The meeting was attended by gastroenterologists from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
To the best of our understanding, there is no group of gastroenterologists existing anywhere in the world with the mission to improve radiation protection. The World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) is collaborating with the IAEA in this activity.
The objective of the network is to enhance radiation protection of patients and staff in procedures where ionizing radiation is used.
The activities planned are to:
- Starting a newsletter similar to the Asian Network of Cardiologists in Radiation Protection;
- Organize sessions on radiation protection in gastroenterology conferences;
- Make available training and guidance material developed by the IAEA and WGO on this subject in Spanish language;
- Liaise with regulatory authorities in respective countries and seek cooperation in implementing actions;
- Perform surveys of practice of radiation protection and assess changes in practice;
- Collect data on radiation doses to patients and implement dose reduction strategies with due regard to optimization;
- Liaise with WGO in setting up requirements;
- Use journals to propagate the message of radiation protection in gastroenterology;
- Collaborate with medical physics and radiation protection societies;
- Implement QC actions on X -ray equipment.
World Gastroenterologists Organization (WGO) is cooperating with the IAEA for this activity and guidelines have already been developed jointly.