N.Z. Helping Thailand Check Radiation Hazards

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30711, 29 March 1965, Page 8

N.Z. Helping Thailand Check Radiation Hazards

New Zealand Is helping Thailand, to. set. up a radiation protection service and to enact legislation patterned on experience in the Dominion, which pioneered much of this type of work. Under an arrangement with the World Health Organisation, the New Zealand Government recently sent Mr G. E. Roth, Director of the National Radiation Laboratory, Christchurch, to Thailand to advise on development and to arrange for the training of key staff. Back in Christchurch on Friday, Mr Roth said the new service in Thailand would be set up within the Department of Medical Sciences in the Ministry of Public Health. Part of the magnificent new laboratories and offices recently erected would be set aside for the radiation protection service. Already four key officers had been appointed:—(l) a male doctor with high medical qualifications y.d three years’ experience with the Interna-

' tional Atomic Energy Agency on diagnostic, therapeutic, and ; radio-active isotope services; ■ (2) a woman doctor with wide general experience; (3) an electronic engineer who graduated in Chicago; 14) an administration officer. The last three would come to New Zealand this year on

Colombo Plan fellowships to study all aspects of the work of the National Radiation Laboratory in Christchurch. Mr Roth said. The woman doctor and the engineer, who were now taking a refresher course in X-ray technology in Bangkok, would come to New Zealand in May for six months. The administrator would come in June for three months. Mr Roth said the New Zealand Government had agreed to provide measuring instruments for field work in Thailand. This would cover the calibration of hospital equipment, testing for radiation hazards, and routine ehecks of radiation workers.

Radiological services in the larger cities of Thailand surI prised Mr Roth. But, he said, much had to be done in rural districts served by regional hospitals. Thailand, Mr Roth said, had to embark on the programme begun in New Zealand many years ago to convince even the users of radiation equipment that careful checks must be made continually for their own protection. The public would also have to be informed about the wisdom of legislation. More staff would have to be trained. Mr Roth will return to Thailand for a short time later this year to see the new officers and the new services launch the big programme. Mr Roth is a world authority on these matters. As a result of his achievements in New Zealand he spent three years in Vienna as a divisional director of the International Atomic Energy Agency.