1. & Moroccan Radiation Protection Association www.cnesten.org.ma/amr/ Moroccan Association of Medical Physics www.asso-ampm.com Organize The Fourth Regional African Congress of International Radiation Protection Association First announcement AFRIRPA 04 13-17 September 2014 Rabat - Morocco Main Theme : Strengthening of radiation protection infrastructures in support to the health sector in Africa AMRAMPM

2. Presentation: The Moroccan Association of Radiation Protection (AMR) and the Moroccan Association of Medical Physics (AMPM) have the great pleasure to invite you to the 4 rd African Regional IRPA congress (AFRIRPA04) to be held on 19-24 May 2014 in Rabat, Morocco. Africa is facing a rapid growth in the use of nuclear techniques in various socio-economic sectors: medicine, industry, agriculture, research & training, etc. Most of the African countries have now their own nuclear legislation. Scientists and professionals involved in the use of nuclear techniques are aware of the misuse of these helpful techniques and their potential harmful effects. Therefore, they have tried to harmonize their activities in the field of radiation protection through the creation of national, regional and international associations. Medical sector is the most important user of ionizing radiation in Africa. Many hospitals have radiology diagnostic, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology and radiotherapy departments and then a huge part of the population, either professionals or patients are concerned by radiation protection. The previous Regional IRPA congresses were held in South Africa (2003), Egypt (2007) and Kenya (2010). Considering the importance of ionizing radiation in the medical sector, AMR and AMPM have chosen as main theme for AFRIRPA04: " Strengthening of radiation protection infrastructures in support to the health sector in Africa". The AFRIRPA04 will also enable scientists and professionals to discuss and exchange their expertise on radiation protection in all the fields involved with radiation protection. All the stakeholders of this congress (international, regional and national associations of radiation protection; physicians; physicists; individuals...) are kindly invited to contribute to this AFRIRPA04 by submitting their abstracts and by an active participation to improve and to enhance the quality of radiation protection in Africa. In collaboration with (as per April 2012) - International Atomic Energy Agency - IAEA - World Health Organization - WHO - United Nations Scientific Committee on The - Effects of Atomic Radiations – UNSCEAR - International Organization of Medical Physics – IOMP - Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations - FAMPO - Egyptian Society of Nuclear Science & Applic., Rad. Prot. Group - Eastern Africa Association for Radiation Protection - Madagascar Radiation Protection Association ANARAP-MAD - Southern African Radiation Protection Society - Tunisian Society of Biophysics and Medical Imaging - Centre National de Radioprotection, Tunisie - Association des Ingénieurs en Génie Atomique du Maroc AIGAM - Centre National de l’Energie, des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires CNESTEN - Association Marocaine Des Professionnels En Physique Médicale

3. Topics: Main Theme : Strengthening of radiation protection infrastructures in support to the health sector in Africa - Radiation Protection Infrastructure and Training - Developments in Radiation Protection in all domains - Development of National and Regional RP infrastructures - Occupational exposure - Radon in workplaces and homes - Biological effects of radiation (molecules, cells, tissues & organs; effects on embryo/fetus) - Radio-epidemiological studies (including studies in high background radiation areas) - Dosimetry (external, internal, and biological dosimetry) - Radiation protection standards - Radiation protection equipments in Africa - Public exposure - Modeling of radiation exposures - Radiation measurement and dose calculations - Industrial applications - RPP involving NORM and consequences of environmental radioactivity in mining - Radiation, transport and Waste Safety and security - Safety and security of radiation sources - Protecting public from radiological attacks - Safety measures for radiation protection in connection with nuclear accidents - …………………………

4. Conference Language: English Organization Chairpersons: Rajaâ CHERKAOUI EL MOURSLI, AMR President rajaa.cherkaoui@gmail.comrajaa.cherkaoui@gmail.com Ahmed IBN SEDDIK, AMPM President ahmed.ibnseddik@gmail.comahmed.ibnseddik@gmail.com Scientific programme chairperson: Abdelmajid CHOUKRI, AMR Secretary Generalchoukrimajid@yahoo.comchoukrimajid@yahoo.com Scientific programme secretary: Oum Keltoum HAKAM, AMR Vice-Presidentokhakam@yahoo.comokhakam@yahoo.com Steering Committee : (to be completed) Organizing Committee: (to be completed) Scientific Committee: (to be completed) for further information, e-mail to choukrimajid@yahoo.comchoukrimajid@yahoo.com Web site : www.afrirpa4.comwww.afrirpa4.com