Faces of Nuclear Medicine: Experts from Tanzania on their journey, inspiration, and fighting social stigma

DAR ES SALAAM: In Tanzania, the field of nuclear medicine is gaining momentum, promising advanced diagnostics and treatments for complex diseases.

Yet, despite its transformative potential, nuclear medicine faces significant hurdles – social stigma and persistent myths, particularly those that deter women from entering the field.

These challenges are critical in a country striving to bridge the gap in specialised healthcare.

Practitioners like head of the Pharmacy Department at Bugando Medical Centre, Pharmacist John Pemba and head of Nuclear Medicine at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Dr Tausi Maftah are paving the way for nuclear medicine, demonstrating that nuclear technology holds immense benefits for humanity.

Nuclear medicine was first introduced in Tanzania in the 1980s and has steadily expanded since then.

Today, the country leads with notable projects that advance this field, such as the Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, where cancer patients have benefited from cobalt isotope brachytherapy since 2018.

In 2019 ORCI in Dar es Salaam, one of Tanzania’s premier cancer treatment facilities, underwent substantial upgrades. With new high-tech equipment, including linear accelerators and other radiotherapy machines, ORCI now serves more patients than ever.

While nuclear medicine offers groundbreaking medical advances, Tanzania faces a critical shortage of trained professionals in this field. Social stigma around nuclear technology is one of the primary reasons.

Many Tanzanians remain cautious about radioactive materials, seeing nuclear medicine as hazardous.

Misconceptions persist that the field is inherently dangerous and may even affect one’s health in unforeseen ways. For women, in particular, these myths are compounded by gender-specific fears, including beliefs that working with radioactive substances will harm their fertility or lead to early death.

Two Tanzanian experts are at the forefront of changing perceptions about nuclear medicine; John Pemba and Dr. Tausi Maftah. Through their dedication and leadership, they challenge prevailing myths and illustrate that nuclear medicine is safe, essential, and ripe with opportunity.

According to John Pemba, nuclear medicine plays a crucial role in the development of Tanzania’s healthcare system. The pharmacist emphasises that the creation of a team of qualified specialists is the main factor in expanding access to vital treatments for the population, especially in areas with inadequate health services.

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Pemba knows this problem first-hand: in 2017, the health centre where he works could only see 500 patients a day due to a shortage of medicines and pharmacists, as well as a number of other problems. After carefully studying the reasons for the current situation, the medical centre, with Pemba’s active participation, developed a business plan that, by implementing changes in all of the medical facility’s processes, allowed the number of patients to increase to 1,200 per day within a year. Now the number is 2,000.

Dr Maftah, the only female nuclear medicine doctor in Tanzania, is already someone of a legend. She has completed numerous international training programmes, including in Europe and the United States. In 2022, she won the Women in Science Award from the local NGO Women in Islam.

Her journey in the industry, from being one of the few female nuclear medicine students to head of the department at Ocean Road Cancer Institute, shows that women can not only succeed in the field, but also influence its development in Tanzania.

Dr Maftah says that in her work she has noticed a lack of equipment, which has prevented her from treating everyone who needs it, and an immense shortage of women in nuclear medicine.

She believes that increasing the number of female nuclear medicine students and their continued work in the field could have a significant impact on the state of the field in the country.

The development of nuclear medicine in Tanzania is part of a broader trend of international collaboration in healthcare technology. Global partnerships help provide resources, share expertise, and foster innovations that advance nuclear medicine worldwide.

Tanzania’s institutions have benefited from partnerships with the International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA, allowing for the acquisition of advanced diagnostic technologies like PET scans and brachytherapy units.

Another key player in this global effort is Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which has taken significant steps to promote nuclear medicine both domestically and internationally.

The company is one of the world’s largest suppliers of medical isotopes and supplies over 50 countries, enabling the diagnosis and treatment of over 2.5 million patients annually.

It produces isotopes for both diagnostics and therapy and is one of only two global suppliers of actinium-225, a revolutionary isotope with immense potential for future cancer treatments.

As Tanzania seeks to expand its nuclear medicine capabilities, partnerships with global leaders like Rosatom could accelerate progress, providing access to cutting-edge treatments and diagnostic tools that will improve healthcare outcomes across the country.

The development of nuclear medicine in Tanzania is about more than cutting-edge technology; it is about creating opportunities, saving lives and transforming healthcare.

Challenging misconceptions and encouraging more Tanzanians to consider nuclear medicine is vital for the future of healthcare. The field holds the promise not only of early and accurate disease detection, but also of effective treatments that improve patient outcomes.

By highlighting the achievements of professionals like Dr Maftah and Mr. Pemba, we hope to inspire a new generation to pursue careers in this critical field.

The potential of nuclear medicine offers hope for a healthier and more resilient future for Tanzania.