The IAEA and the OPEC Fund for International Development completed a joint technical mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last week to review an investment plan to support the establishment of the country’s first radiotherapy centre in a public hospital, expected to treat at least 2000 cancer patients per year. 

The visit follows an agreement between the two organizations in 2024 to join efforts to tackle growing global challenges in health, food and energy, among others, including through the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative to expand radiotherapy in countries with limited or no access to this life-saving treatment. 

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with DRC President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo during his visit to the country in November 2023 and laid a symbolic foundation stone for the new radiotherapy centre. 

“The Democratic Republic of the Congo is taking a historic step to bring radiotherapy to its people,” the IAEA Director General said. “Our strategic partnership with the OPEC Fund under the Rays of Hope initiative exemplifies how combining our strengths can unlock critical financing that will enable the country not only to establish a radiotherapy centre but also to build the national expertise and infrastructure needed to deliver sustainable cancer care for years to come.”

The mission’s objective was to visit the proposed site for the National Cancer Centre in Kinshasa, review capacities and needs and provide technical review for funding proposals. The mission team comprised radiation medicine experts from the IAEA, health sector investment and infrastructure analysts, and procurement and environmental, social and governance (ESG) advisors from the OPEC Fund. 

The team visited the site of the project and met with the DRC Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovations, the Minister of Health, the Deputy Minister of Finance, and the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister in charge of social affairs, as well as representatives from the Congo Cancer Control Programme (CNLC) and the Congo Atomic Energy Commission (CGEA). 

“The cooperation between the OPEC Fund and IAEA demonstrates exemplarily how joining forces in a complementary way can deepen our impact,” said OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa. “IAEA’s technical expertise in the field of nuclear science and the OPEC Fund’s in-depth knowledge of countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo are becoming a powerful combination in this project to combat cancer and improve healthcare.”

The DRC faces a significant cancer burden, with over 50 000 new cases diagnosed every year and very limited access to radiotherapy or medical imaging services. According to IAEA data, the country only has one private radiotherapy centre available to treat its entire population. 

“This project is a top priority for the President of the Republic, and the Government is fully committed and mobilized to ensure its successful implementation without delay,” said Sombo Therese, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovations.

In 2022, the IAEA carried out an imPACT Review and recommended the expansion and decentralization of cancer services. The Agency has also been assisting the DRC in building national capacity in nuclear and radiation medicine to support this expansion.