To strengthen the quality assurance program carried out by the Radiotherapy Physics section at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, the Vodafone Malta Foundation has donated a €35,094 scientific equipment that will be used to measure the characteristics of therapeutic radiation beams produced by the Linear Accelerator used in the Radiotherapy Department at Sir Paul Boffa Hospital.

Part of the equipment will be utilised to expand the absolute dosimtery program, which serves to calibrate the radiation output of the therapeutic machine. On this basis, it is then possible to define the quantity of radiation that is necessary to deliver the oncologist’s prescription. Such equipment facilitates an independent verification of such an important baseline.

Further scientific equipment that has been donated by the Vodafone Malta Foundation will be utilised to measure the distribution of the radiation intensity throughout the entire area of the radiation therapeutic beams. Other equipment is utilised to assure staff safety during treatments with radioactive pharmaceuticals.

Dr Victor Muscat, Malta Cancer Foundation Chairman, said: “This equipment will improve the quality care for cancer patients in Malta and we thank the Vodafone Foundation for supporting our efforts.”

Mrs Gemma Mifsud Bonnici, Chairperson of the Vodafone Malta Foundation said the Foundation was proud to be instrumental in the realisation of such a technical improvement. It falls within the Foundation’s mission statement to support the efforts of the local community of which Vodafone’s customers, employees, investors, partners and suppliers form part, to continue to enhance the level of the medical care services.

The Malta Cancer Foundation aims to improve the quality of life of people affected by cancer by raising funds for the provision of equipment and other facilities related to all aspects of cancer management. It also seeks to undertake initiatives for cancer education, establish links with similar societies abroad, establish more effective cancer prevention and to locally improve expertise by assisting, organising, and subsidising cancer related health care groups and facilities to achieve these aims.