Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi, today (Sunday), October 19, during the signing ceremony of this agreement held with the presence of Engineer Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization at the Ministry of Health, expressed gratitude for the special attention of the Atomic Energy Organization and Engineer Eslami in developing various aspects of health. He stated: With the progress occurring in the health sector, we are moving within the scientific boundaries of the world and must continue this path with strength.
The Necessity of Attention to Dengue Fever and Aedes Mosquito
He added: Today, one example of this necessary cooperation is the issue of "dengue fever" and the "Aedes" mosquito as the vector of this disease. If we do not address this issue promptly, similar to other cases that lead to increased contamination in countries, we will witness its spread across the country. In football, we say the best defense is an attack; the same applies to health, and we must proactively control the disease before an incident occurs.
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Global Experiences and the Necessity of Preventive Actions
Zafarghandi, referring to the experiences of countries in dealing with emerging diseases such as the plague in Russia, said: If strong military discipline, severe quarantines, and comprehensive assaults to control the disease are not implemented in these cases, incidents like COVID-19 may arise, which knows no borders. Unfortunately, in Iran, dengue fever has entered through the migration or travel of individuals from the Persian Gulf countries.
The Minister of Health stated that close cooperation with the Atomic Energy Organization in the fields of radiopharmaceuticals, dosimetry, and new diagnostic devices is being pursued, adding: These collaborations include ecological and control care; an example is the recent inauguration of a PET scan with the presence of Engineer Eslami for the pediatric cancer department at Hakim Children's Hospital. In the past, to evaluate cancer metastasis, patients had to travel to other countries at very high costs, but today, thanks to these collaborations, these services are provided domestically.
Regarding other joint projects, he clarified: An agreement has been made to establish cyclotrons and process radiopharmaceuticals in five locations across the country, which will soon yield results in Azerbaijan and Isfahan, while other locations are also being pursued. These actions not only add value to the advancement of health and care for the people but also represent a lasting service from the Atomic Energy Organization to society.
According to the Ministry of Health, Zafarghandi expressed agreement with the proposed suggestions for utilizing existing infrastructures to reduce costs, stating: We have various health sites; for example, the global WHO site for malaria is located in Bandar Abbas, which can be repurposed to leverage these capacities for advancing control plans.
In conclusion, the Minister of Health emphasized: We are fully prepared to implement the provisions of this memorandum with swift cooperation and follow-up. We must rapidly prepare the settings and infrastructures to increase safety measures against radiation, so we can optimally initiate the work with precise timing and control of irradiation and dosimetry.
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