The Head of Nuclear Medicine Department of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Professor Alfred Ankrah, has disclosed that for the first time, Ghana had implemented a new type of cancer treatment for advance prostate cancer called ‘Lutetium -177 prostrate – specific Membrane antigen (PSMA)’.
Prof. Ankrah made this disclosure when World Association of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Therapist held their 18th international conference on Radiopharmaceutical therapy in Accra.
He noted that Korle Bu is the only hospital in Ghana that has functioning nuclear medicine department. He said even though Komfo Anokye had nuclear medicine technologist but the department lack the needed equipment to make it operational.
“Nuclear Medicine is not one man’s work but a team work involving nuclear Technologist, Radiopharmaceutical, medical physicist… Training a doctor and getting a camera for the department is not enough but it is the training of all members that will operate at the department that will ensure the success of their work,” he said.
He indicated that nuclear medicine department at hospital had been engaging Ghana College of Physician for mutual benefits. He revealed that they are working on draft that the two institutions can adopt to train more nuclear medicine technologist in Ghana.
He added that his outfit is engaging the Ministry of Health on how nuclear medicine therapy can be incorporated into the country’s health care delivery.
Nuclear medicine treatment
President of World Association of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Therapy, Professor Mike Sathekge, said nuclear medicine treatment is a precise medicine treatment and therapy.
“Before a cancer patient is treated with this therapy, they remove the cancer and apply the therapy that will destroy the cancer cells and spread the normal tissues. This reduces toxicity and improve patient’s life,” he added.
He stressed the need for Government of Ghana to send doctors outside to learn nuclear medicine since there are trained nuclear medicine technologist in Ghana. He also called on government to collaborate with trained nuclear medicine technologist to help train more people in this field.
That, he indicated, will help treat patients with cancer in Ghana and other Africa counties.
He encouraged all Africa counties to join world Association of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular therapy to get the needed tools and training to help democratize the therapy in the continent.
Dr Masha Maharaj, Director of Nuclear Medicine Department Umhlanga Molecular Imaging Therapy in South Africa, said the conference was held in Ghana after the engagement with Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Nuclear Medicine Department to treat a patient with cancer and was successful.
“Until now, South Africa is the only country in Africa that had this type of advance treatment for cancer. It is not fair keeping this knowledge even though doctors mostly come to South Africa for training… It’s time to train more nuclear medicine technologist for the betterment of doctors and patients,” she indicated.
