Speaker
Description
The expansion of nuclear medicine in Kenya has created both opportunities and new responsibilities in the safe handling and transport of radioactive materials. At Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH), the only public hospital with a cyclotron, we not only produce fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for our in-house PET/CT services but also package, label, and transport doses to other hospitals across Nairobi and beyond. This process involves specialized packaging under KNRA regulations, careful labelling, and time-sensitive distribution given the short half-life of FDG. In practice, ensuring that the calibrated activity reach at the destination on time, and radiation shielding remain intact during road transport is challenging, particularly when faced with traffic delays or last-minute dose requests. At the same time, Kenya still depends on imported isotopes such as Technetium-99m generators for SPECT, Iridium-192 for brachytherapy, and calibration sources. Here, customs clearance often presents hurdles, with delays at entry points affecting timely delivery to our facility. These experiences highlight that while the science of transport is well-regulated on paper, the lived reality involves balancing regulatory compliance, logistical challenges, and patient needs under time pressure. By sharing our journey, we aim to contribute lessons learned on safe packaging, secure labeling, local distribution, and navigating customs processes for international shipments, while highlighting areas where collaboration and training can enhance efficiency and safety in the transport of radiopharmaceuticals in Kenya.
