Fresh hope for cancer care

KILIMANJARO: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has said expanding cancer treatment services closer to the public will improve access to care and reduce the burden on patients, as she directed researchers to investigate the increasing number of children diagnosed with cancer and heart diseases.

She made the remarks yesterday while inaugurating a state-of-the-art radiotherapy unit at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region.

The President said the facility forms part of the government’s efforts to decentralise specialised cancer treatment services and bring them closer to the people. “We had one centre at Ocean Road in Dar es Salaam.

Later the services were extended to Bugando in Mwanza and now we have completed the work in the Northern Zone. We are also preparing to expand these services to other zones across the country,” she said.

According to President Samia, the radiotherapy unit will reduce the burden on patients and families who previously travelled long distances in search of treatment while strengthening the country’s referral healthcare system.

She said the government remains committed to ensuring that specialised healthcare services are accessible to more people across the country.

President Samia also expressed concern over what she described as a growing trend of serious illnesses that were once largely associated with adults but are now increasingly affecting children.

“Years ago, cancer was widely regarded as a disease affecting adults, but today many children are being diagnosed with cancer and heart-related conditions. Some are born with heart defects, while others develop various cardiovascular complications at a young age,” she said.

The President directed health research institutions to collaborate with international experts to investigate the factors behind the rise in the diseases and provide scientific guidance that could help prevent them.

She also called for greater public education to help communities understand and avoid practices and risk factors associated with the illnesses.

Referring to concerns raised during the event, President Samia said that a significant number of heart patients treated at KCMC originate from the Northern Zone and challenged researchers to establish the reasons behind th e trend.

“Our researchers should help us understand why this region appears to produce a large number of heart patients. We need evidence-based answers,” she said.

President Samia further stressed the importance of strengthening early disease detection, saying many forms of cancer can be treated more effectively when diagnosed at an early stage.

She identified cervical cancer and breast cancer among women, prostate cancer among men and throat cancer affecting both men and women as some of the most common cancers in the country.

“The Ministry of Health, together with all stakeholders, should intensify early screening programmes to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment,” she said.

She also urged the public not to fear medical screening, noting that cancer is not a death sentence when detected and treated early.

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Minister for Health, Mohamed Mchengerwa described the commissioning of the radiotherapy unit as a historic milestone in the country’s healthcare transformation, saying it reflects the government’s commitment to bringing specialised medical services closer to citizens.

He said the facility offers renewed hope to cancer patients and their families, while demonstrating the Sixth Phase Government’s determination to expand access to advanced healthcare services across the country.

KCMC Executive Director, Prof Gileard Masenga said the newly inaugurated radiotherapy unit marks the culmination of a vision that began more than a decade ago to establish a comprehensive cancer treatment centre in northern Tanzania.

According to Prof Masenga, the initiative attracted support from local and international partners, including the Good Samaritan Foundation, USAID and the Foundation for Cancer Care Tanzania (FCCT).

“President Samia contributed 5.5bn/- towards the completion of the radiotherapy unit, which cost 17bn/- to build and equip. The facility will expand KCMC’s capacity to provide specialised cancer care, bring services closer to patients and ease pressure on other cancer treatment centres across the country,” Prof Masenga said.

He said the centre is equipped with modern technology, including a CT scanner for cancer diagnosis and treatment planning, a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) for external beam radiotherapy and a brachytherapy machine for internal radiation treatment.

The facility also includes specialist consultation rooms, treatment rooms and a medical library.

FCCT president, Ms Hazel Reinhardt described the inauguration of the KCMC Radiotherapy Unit as the culmination of more than a decade of collaboration among the government development partners, healthcare institutions and donors committed to improving cancer care services in the country.

She said the new facility represents a significant milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to strengthen cancer care services and reduce barriers that have historically limited access to treatment for many patients.