MONROVIA, September 18, 2026: Liberia is seeking stronger support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to expand access to cancer diagnosis and treatment as the government moves to establish the country’s first comprehensive cancer treatment center.
Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs Daniel Sanoe disclosed the development Thursday during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia.
Sanoe said Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, representing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at the 70th General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna, Austria, appealed for greater international support for Liberia’s cancer-care program.
According to Sanoe, Koung told the conference that the government is mobilizing at least US$22 million to construct, equip and sustainably operate the proposed cancer treatment center, which is expected to address a major gap in Liberia’s healthcare system.
The Vice President described cancer as one of Liberia’s pressing public health challenges, citing approximately 4,217 new cases and 2,745 cancer-related deaths in 2024.
He identified breast, cervical and prostate cancers among the leading forms of the disease reported in the country.
Koung said Liberia’s limited access to specialized cancer services has forced patients who can afford treatment to seek care abroad, placing significant financial and emotional burdens on patients and their families.
He appealed to the IAEA for continued assistance through its Rays of Hope initiative, which supports countries with limited resources in strengthening cancer diagnosis and treatment, including access to radiotherapy.
The Vice President said Liberia wants the initiative to reach countries where cancer patients have the least access to specialized care.
Plans for the cancer center advanced in July 2025 when President Boakai and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the facility.
According to Sanoe, Koung said the center will require modern medical equipment and trained specialists, including oncologists, radiologists, medical physicists, radiation therapists and technicians.
Beyond cancer care, the Vice President also called for expanded cooperation with the IAEA in agriculture, food security, environmental monitoring and radiation safety.
Koung said Liberia has drafted a new nuclear law intended to strengthen radiation protection, regulatory oversight and the security of radioactive materials as the country expands the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology.
He also highlighted IAEA-supported agricultural initiatives, including the Atoms4Food program, aimed at improving crop production, livestock development, nutrition and agricultural value chains.
Sanoe said Liberia has also established a radiological laboratory and acquired an elemental analyzer valued at approximately €100,000 with IAEA support.
Liberia’s appeal comes as the IAEA General Conference and its accompanying scientific forum place increased attention on expanding cancer treatment capacity in countries with limited access to specialized services.
The 2026 Scientific Forum, held September 15–16, focused on the Rays of Hope initiative and efforts to broaden access to cancer diagnosis, radiotherapy and related expertise.
The government says deeper cooperation with the IAEA will help Liberia strengthen cancer care while expanding the peaceful use of nuclear science in agriculture, environmental protection and public safety.
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