Report on conducted tour of nuclear safety source search and radioactive waste in Bo and Kenema

The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority has continued it source search and secure exercise and also conducted routine inspections of the Government hospitals in Bo and Kenema cities. Officers doing the source search in Kenema

Manager, Nuclear Safety Source Search and Radioactive Waste Management Abdulai Abass Kargbo said that their presence in Bo and Kenema is as a result of the mandate of the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act 2012 to ensure that the people and the environment are protected from the harmful effect of ionizing radiation. He said that sometime in June this year the authority was able to rescue an orphan cesium 137 radioactive source that was located at a dwelling house at kissy bye pass road in the east end of Freetown. This he said prompted the authority to carry out source search in every part of the country. He said that source search and secure isan everyday activity and vowed that the authority will continue this exercise.

Mr. Kargbo revealed that their search and secure exercise in the townships was necessary though no source was found, but cautioned that the background level of radiation is relatively high as compared to Freetown. He said that the authority will soon embark on a radiometric survey to be able to demarcate area with potentially high level of radiation and to create hotspot so that if construction work should be done within that area they would be adequately advised.

The team also conducted routine inspection at the Bo government hospital but was unable to inspect the Kenema government hospital as there was no electricity available within the three day the team spent in the provinces.

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