Govt provides 1bn/- additional fund for KCMC cancer unit
KILIMANJARO: THE government has allocated an additional of 1bn/- for cancer unit at the KCMC Zonal Referral Hospital in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region.
This was stated over the weekend by the KCMC ZRH’s Executive Director (EDR) Prof Gileard Masenga, while providing a report on progress the cancer unit project to the leadership of the Foundation for Cancer Care in Tanzania (FCCT) one of the donors of the project.
“Earlier, the government through the pledge made by President Samia Suluhu Hassan allocated 3bn/- for the construction of the bunker (a radiation service building); Recently, the government added 1bn/- which will be used to buy equipment for cancer treatment upon completion of the bunker construction “, he said.
He said that the construction of the bunker is expected to cost a total of 5.1bn/- whereby besides the 1bn/- which was provided by the government, the American people have contributed 2bn/- through the United Sates Agency for International Development (USAID) which has been submitted to KCMC ZRH through the FCCT management.
“The construction of the bunker has reached 70 per cent and is expected to be completed by December this year and thereafter the process of fixing the equipment will commence”, he said.
“The installation of such equipment meant to provide radiation services takes a long time due to its importance as well as the health precautions that are taken when installing them…we expect the installation processes to be completed by the end of December next year, and pave way for the treatment services to commence in January, 2025”, he added.
Prof Masenga further said that besides the funds provided by the government for buying the equipment, the management of the hospital will also receive 2 million US dollars for purchasing equipment for cancer treatment.
“We estimate that the equipment to cost 10b/-; the hospital administration is continuing with different efforts to get the equipment so that treatment can start as expected,” he said.
Prof Masenga said the equipment included among others, a Linear Accelerator machine for radiation treatment, a Brachytherapy machine used to deliver intravicavitary radiation treatment and a CT scan simulator.
Speaking during the session FCCT President Ms Hazel Reinhardt said the equipment expected to be provided includes the Linear Accelerator machine.
“A Linear Accelerator is a Radiotherapy machine which uses a cutting-edge technology for delivering radiation treatment”, she said.
For his part, the Chairman of the FCCT Board Dr Tom Flynn said that, the services expected to be provided after the completion of the construction will be a liberation for many people in the Northern Zone regions of Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Arusha and Manyara.
“The services which will be provide at KCMC upon completion of this project are expected to be of world-class level, which will focus on advanced medical treatments which will ensure accessibility and affordability to residents of all levels of lives”, he said, adding, the services will reduce the high costs of residents which they would use to seek the services in Dar es Salaam or outside the country.
