The Ghana Society for Medical Physics (GSMP) has held a symposium in Accra to commemorate this year’s International Day for Medical Physics (IDMP).

The Symposium was under the theme, “Providing a Holistic Approach to Women Patient and Women Staff Safety in Radiation Medicine”. The programme saw the presence of Nuclear Scientists, Medical Doctors, Medical Physicists, and Students from Second Cycle schools and Tertiary Institutions among others.

The International Day of Medical Physics is an event held annually to raise awareness on the Profession of Medical Physics.

Speaking on the topic, “Female Medical Physicist: Global and Regional Perspectives”, Ms. Theresa Dery a Medical Physicist and research scientist at the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSRI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GEAC), disclosed that Ghana has a total of 16 female Medical Physicists with only 6 currently practicing. According to her, four are yet to graduate and the other six are interns.

“Out of the six female Medical Physicits, two are in the clinical field, two in research and the remaining two in academia”, she said

Ms. Dery, who was the second female Medical Physicist to graduate from the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), described the current state of affairs as unfortunate.

She blamed the situation on gender inequality and job security issues for females in such a field of study. She recommended that, there should be more scholarship programmes to sponsor females interested in the Medical Physics profession in order to produce more.

She finally called for Mathematics and Science clinics to be extended to basic schools to ensure a fertile foundation for young female students.

The Director of RAMSRI, GAEC, Prof. Mary Boadu, who delivered a speech on the theme for the celebration, called for a massive advocacy and public education outreach on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) via radio, television and print media, particularly on breast cancer awareness.

Prof. Boadu was optimistic that the financial burden on government and individuals, with respect to breast cancer treatment will reduce if health journalists and other media persons, as well as other groups such as Market women are thoroughly educated on NCDs to ensure early diagnosis.

She finally called for an increase in the number of regional and selected district hospitals for cervical cancer screening services.