COVID-19 is a rapidly growing pandemic that has grown worldwide and Africa is not spared . Medical imaging has a key role to play in the diagnosis and management of COVID-19 as an integral part of the care pathway. In the medical context referring to different technologies available using ionizing (X ray, or CT), radiation protection must be integrated and taken into account in the patient care As such, the Afrosafe Rad campaign fully plays its role in terms of recommendations and awareness.

In the continent the society as health, political, economic and social continue to be negatively impacted by the pandemic Covid 19. the pre-existing fragile health systems were overwhelmed with the surge in cases at the peak of the outbreak (1). Shortages and availability of means are nothing new in Africa and disrupted the continuity health services . The lack of availability of PCR tests put medical imaging at the center of management of the covid 19 disease (2). A reorganization of activities was essential to...

Knowledge of the practice of medical imaging in the suspicion and diagnosis of disease also involves the field of patient radiation protection (3). Most international organizations and scientific societies recommend against routine use of diagnostic imaging for the diagnosis of COVID-19 unless a lack of availability or access to RT-PCR or immunoassays.Out of concern over the use of CT and associated radiation doses to patients with suspected or known COVID-19 infection, the IAEA organized a survey related to the CT practice and protocol optimization on...

Improving a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa requires regularly updated information, constant innovation, and considerable support towards research and development for priorities that respond to the African realities.This question should be the subject of permanent reflection to improve and consolidate the quality of services particularly in the field of medical imaging as planned with the IAEA and WHO projects

(1) Africa centres for disease control and prevention. Africa CDC website. Available from: https://africacdc.org (2) S. J. Salyer, J. Maeda, S. Sembuche, Y. Kebede, A. Tshangela, M. Moussif, C. Ihekweazu, N. Mayet, E. Abate, A. O. Ouma, J. Nkengasong, The first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: A cross-sectional study. Lancet 397, 1265–1275 (2021). (3) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Radiation protection and safety of radiation sources: international basic safety standards: https://www-pub.iaea. org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1578_web-57265295.pdf (4) World Health Organization. Use of chest imaging in...

B. Mansouri: Nothing to disclose