IAEA reaffirms strong commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s health sector

Addis Ababa, July 1, 2025 (FMC) – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reiterated its continued support for Ethiopia’s health sector, particularly in expanding access to advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment technologies, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi announced on Monday.

Grossi made the remarks during a visit to Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, where he joined senior Ethiopian officials to inaugurate the hospital’s newly launched nuclear medicine service. The visit took place on the sidelines of the “Rays of Hope Forum 2025,” currently underway in the Ethiopian capital.

The IAEA Director General emphasized the Agency’s close collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to ensure the consistent provision of vital medical resources. He also noted that the Agency would continue delivering technical assistance and specialized training to strengthen local capacity in nuclear medicine and oncology care.

“Proud to launch the new nuclear medicine service at Black Lion Hospital – one of four radiotherapy centers supported by the IAEA in Ethiopia,” Grossi stated. He highlighted that, through the Rays of Hope initiative, the hospital is now equipped with SPECT/CT scanners, a linear accelerator (LINAC), and a trained medical workforce, with a mammography unit soon to be added.

Describing the launch as a “major step forward,” the Director General also acknowledged the existing limitations in cancer treatment services at the hospital and expressed the IAEA’s readiness to collaborate with Ethiopian authorities to address these gaps and expand access to life-saving care.