Video summary
The video highlights the transformative impact of the International Atomic Energy Agency's "Rays of Hope" initiative, which aims to turn cervical cancer from a death sentence into a treatable condition by bringing advanced radiotherapy closer to patients in developing nations. For too long, a cancer diagnosis in many parts of Africa meant impossible journeys for treatment or accepting limited chemotherapy that could not cure the illness. The program addresses this crisis by securing funding, constructing new cancer centers, purchasing essential radiotherapy equipment, and training a new generation of medical specialists, thereby ensuring that life-saving care is accessible within local communities rather than requiring patients to travel abroad.
A powerful example of this progress is found in Malawi, where the story of Edith illustrates the shift from despair to hope. Just a year prior to her diagnosis, she would have received no curative treatment at her local hospital due to a lack of resources and staff, leaving her family facing a grim prognosis. However, thanks to years of planning and support from the IAEA and various donors, a new cancer center opened in Lilongwe equipped with high-tech radiotherapy machines, including brachytherapy vital for treating cervical cancer. With the assistance of trained medical staff who utilized advanced training methods, including virtual reality simulations, Edith received the full combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy she needed, ultimately recovering successfully to return home and restart her life.
This story of renewal is unfolding across the continent and globally, with significant milestones achieved in neighboring countries like Tanzania, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Tanzania, decades of partnership have expanded access to radiotherapy and introduced advanced technologies for thousands of patients annually. Meanwhile, new facilities are being constructed in Monrovia and Kinshasa, while Sierra Leone plans a center capable of treating a thousand patients per year, all supported by a growing network of anchor centers that share knowledge across borders. These efforts are backed by major financing from organizations like the OPEC Fund for International Development, ensuring that critical equipment such as linear accelerators is delivered and hospitals are upgraded to meet international standards.
The initiative has accelerated at an unprecedented pace, with around 100 countries joining the network, over 20 anchor centers established, and 800 medical staff trained in just four years. More than 20 new or expanded cancer centers are currently being planned or built, alongside the procurement of over 150 major pieces of equipment to upgrade hospital capabilities worldwide. The overarching message is clear that access to radiotherapy should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy but an absolute right for all people. By building on decades of work and mobilizing international resources, Rays of Hope is fulfilling its promise to deliver on the global commitment to cancer care, ensuring that no country faces these challenges alone and that hope continues to spread across Africa and beyond.
Read the full video transcript
These women are learning [music] that
cervical cancer no longer needs to be a
death sentence because their local
hospitals are finally getting access
[music] to the lifesaving radiotherapy
much of the world takes for granted.
The IAEA launched Rays of Hope to build
on decades of work [music] helping
developing countries turn their cancer
care ambitions into action by providing
support to secure funding, [music] build
cancer centers, buy radiotherapy
equipment, and train a whole generation
of specialists.
The goal is simple. to bring cancer care
closer to home so patients can access
the treatment they need
>> without the patients having to access
treatment in the country. It will be
very difficult. It will be like a death
sentence to [music] most people.
>> For too long a cancer diagnosis in many
parts of Africa has meant long and often
impossible journeys to get treatment.
But that is beginning to change. Here
in Malawi, even just one year ago, a
cancer patient like Edith and Coma would
not have been able to access the
treatment she needed.
Of course,
but when the mother of four was
diagnosed with cervical cancer, she knew
this was likely the end. Only
chemotherapy could be offered to limit
but not cure the illness. A lack of
needed radiotherapy equipment or the
necessary staff meant that local
oncologist Dr. Christine Muka had to
have many difficult conversations with
her patients. If I had a patient with
cancer that required treatment, uh it
meant uh telling the patient that we're
not able to give the treatment which was
a very difficult situation for the
family. The biggest challenge for me was
knowing the options that are available
in other countries and also having gone
through the training and knowing what I
should do to cure the patient and not
having those resources available that
was very difficult for me. But in 2025,
just as Edith fell ill, Rays of Hope
began showing [music] its first tangible
results in the country. After years of
planning, training, and support from the
IAEA and funding from different donors,
a brand new cancer center was opened in
Leilongu, just a few hours from Edith's
home. It was a joyous occasion for the
entire community.
Dr. Muka finally got the high techch
radiotherapy machines she knew her
patients so desperately needed,
including the brachi therapy vital for
targeted cervical cancer treatment
to beat the disease Edith was told she
would need it all. Surgery, chemo, and
radiotherapy.
Did I own a machine?
radio.
After a few months of treatment, Edith
is done. As is traditional, she rings
the celebratory bell before heading home
to restart her life.
[singing]
[music]
>> [music]
[music]
>> kitchen.
>> [music]
[music]
>> Edith's treatment was successful in
large part thanks to the skills and
commitment [music]
of the medical staff at Kamazu Central
hospital. Many received additional
training from the IAEA, including
through its network of regional anchor
centers and even through virtual reality
experiences to help prepare for the
complexities of providing safe radio
therapy.
The support that the international
atomic energy agency has been given has
been enormous and we appreciate that
they should [music] continue doing that
to other countries because the main
issue is saving life. [music] There's a
great difference.
The poor can access radio therapy
services.
>> Having radiation is really helpful
because it gives us hope knowing that
when we're treating [music] we're
actually curing.
This same story of hope is unfolding
across Africa and around the world. For
example, in neighboring Tanzania,
decades of partnership with the IAEA
have already helped to transform cancer
care. Hospitals have expanded access to
radiotherapy [music] and introduced
advanced treatment technologies, which
has brought lifesaving care closer to
thousands of patients [music] each year.
both in the capital and in the regions.
At the same time, new education programs
are preparing the next generation of
medical physicists, radiation
therapists, and oncologists, [music]
ensuring that this progress will
continue for years to come. Other parts
of the continent still have no public
radiotherapy yet, but progress is
promising.
In [music] Liberia, hope took on a
physical form in 2025 when ground was
broken for the JFK Medical Center in
Monrovia. Behind that milestone [music]
lies years of planning, training, and
preparation supported by the [music]
IAEA.
This process is also happening in Sierra
Leon, which currently has no domestic
radio therapy, but with the IAEA's
[music]
help, is now planning a brand new
facility capable [music] of treating a
thousand patients a year. And in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the
same longheld ambition is finally
[music] becoming reality.
Major financing has now been secured
from the OPEC fund for international
development for the future Kinshasa
Cancer [music] Center, the country's
first public radiotherapy center.
These achievements are being built on
the back of a growing network of IAEA
anchor centers, leading institutions
willing to share their knowledge across
borders by connecting those who have
experience with neighbors who are just
beginning the journey. The anchor
centers ensure that no country has to
face the challenge alone. From the
groundbreaking sites of Kinshasa and
Monrovia to the first patients treated
in Liil Long and the expanding clinics
of Tanzania, these are just a few
examples of tangible progress being made
in Africa and globally. Rays of Hope is
moving at an unprecedented pace. In just
4 years, around 100 countries have
joined, over 20 anchor centers have been
established, and 800 medical staff have
been trained.
On the ground, more than 20 new or
expanded cancer [music] centers are
being planned or built, and over 150
major pieces of equipment have been
procured, including linear accelerators,
mimography machines, and diagnostic
scanners.
backed by [music] millions
internationally mobilized financed
hospitals are [music] being upgraded.
Equipment is being delivered and
critical medical staff are being trained
because cancer care is not a privilege.
It is an absolute right.