KHUAJND, September 30, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The Sughd branch of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency at the Tajik Academy of Science has launched an assessment of state of X-ray equipments installed at medical facilities in the Sughd province, Asia-Plus has learned from the branch head Numonjon Hakimov.

According to him, specialists are carrying out assessment of health risks originated by the X-ray equipments.  Earlier, they had made an inventory of more than 100 X-ray equipments in the province.

In parallel, the specialists are carrying out explanatory work medical personnel and administrations of the medical facilities and conducting seminars on terms of getting license for working with the X-ray equipment and what normative and technical documentation is needed, the branch head said.

Agency for Nuclear and Radiation Safety established under the Academy of Sciences is designated as the state regulatory authority that ensures radiation safety, conducts unified state policy, and coordinates the work of other authorized agencies. The Agency works in close contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

We will recall that in December 1999, the Tajik government decided to join the IAEA and request its assistance both in obtaining technical capabilities and in dealing with organizational and legal issues. To the IAEA’s credit, such assistance began immediately.  The first technical assistance was rendered even before the official recognition of Tajikistan as an IAEA member on September 20, 2000, at the IAEA General Conference.  Despite serious financial difficulties, the Academy of Sciences assumed coordination functions in the regulation of activities related to the use of radioactive substances.