By Linda Moyo:
The International Atomic Agency (IAEA) has emphasized the need to invest in nuclear science saying it the catalyst to National development
The IAEA Direct for Africa Technical Cooperation Programme,Shaukat Abdulrazak was speaking during a public lecture organized by the environmental affairs department in the ministry of natural Resource and Climate at the Bingu International Conventional Centre (BICC).
Nuclear Science and technology offers a great opportunity for social-economical development , in Agriculture, Health, Water recourse , Energy and Industry which contribute to the fulfillment of the country’s national development agenda.
“Nuclear science plays a vital role in provision of health care services through diagnosis and treatments,quality control of industrial processing activities, quality control in construction,ensuring food and nutrition security through food treatments,energy diversity and sustainable power supply,” Explained Abdulrazak.
He further said IAEA supports member countries in a number of project which are inline with their National goals and strategies and for Malawi their programmes are supporting the the realization of the Malawi vision 2063.
“ We have so far supported Malawi with nuclear science equipment’s which were given to the Malawi Bureau of Standards to be used for testing and Ministry of Agriculture in the Animal Science departments for livestock treatment and development,” He Said.
The IAEA is also conducting a number of capacity building in specific areas of nuclear science and technology providing scholarships for Masters and PHDs,fellowships and scientific visits to countries which are technologically advanced in the world.
In his remarks the National coordinator for African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRAI) Lyson Kampira was very thankful to the IAEA Directors visit to Malawi saying it will help speed up a number of initiative in the country which include setting up the first radiotherapy centre for cancer treatment.
He then encouraging young students present at the lecture to venture into nuclear science and technology as there many opportunities for sponsorship by the IAEA in the member countries.
“Let me encourage young people here from various public universities to consider a career in nuclear science as one way it advance the countries economy”, He said.
The IAEA Africa programme Director had engagements with the President of Malawi Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, minister of Health Kumbize Kandodo Chiponda, the minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka and minister of Education Agness Nyalonje to discuss issues of national development.
