During a visit to Algeria this week, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano talked about the role of nuclear technology in a nation’s development.
Amano said the IAEA has been assisting Algeria with health care, water management, food and agriculture, and nuclear power and technology during a speech at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations.
In 2011 and 2015, the IAEA conducted review missions in Algeria to help the nation in its fight against cancer.
The IAEA said it has supplied approximately $326 million in radiotherapy support globally, with more than a fourth of that going to African nations.
Amano praised Algeria for sharing its nuclear-technology advances in health care with neighboring countries.
“Your country has played an important role in several regional IAEA research projects, in particular in the field of nuclear cardiology, and helps to train professionals from other countries in Africa in nuclear medicine,” Amano said. “I very much appreciate this valuable contribution to improving medical care for millions of people throughout Africa.”
Amano also spotlighted Algeria’s efforts to launch a nuclear power program, with IAEA providing technical support as the nation does research on energy sustainability.
