KCMC sharpens workers skills on breast cancer detection
KILIMANJARO : THE management of the KCMC Zonal Referral Hospital has pledged to continue organising capacity building training to health personnel on early breast cancer screening so as to reach many people with the service and save more lives.
This was stated over the weekend, in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region by the hospital Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Gabriel Chisseo during the closing of the training to health experts. The training was meant to provide preliminary education on early breast cancer diagnosis.
“The organised training which will be facilitated by the hospital will enable health practitioners from other health institutions located nearby the facility … the intention is to expand the scope of providing early breast cancer screening in many areas up to the ward and village levels in the future instead of accessing the service at the zonal health facility only.
“Those who will be trained will have the opportunity to provide education on the importance of early screening of breast cancer so that those who will be diagnosed with the disease could receive early treatment”, he added.
Mr Chisseo further said that the programme is also the health facility’s response to the government’s call for health institutions to provide awareness to the members of the public on the importance of regular health checkups as efforts to fight Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which are on the rise.
“Our hospital in collaboration with other experts from abroad who work closely with the health facility, will continue to provide such education on breast cancer to reach many people,” he noted.
On his part, the hospital’s Executive Director (EDR) Professor Gileard Masenga said that cancer was a chronic disease that is completely curable when it is detected while in early stages.
“It is due to this fact, that this week-long seminar was very important because people will get early education and prefer checking their health status earlier so that if they are diagnosed with the disease, they can start early treatment.
“Breast cancer is the global leading cause of deaths for women and is the second cause of deaths in the country after cervical cancer, therefore this training is important in efforts meant to address such challenge,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of her fellow participants who reside from Kilimanjaro region and from other regions within the country, Dr Furaha Kasyupa from the pathology department of the KCMCM ZRH said that the seminar has broadened their knowledge in conducting the diagnosis of the ailment.
“We have learned to educate people that getting breast cancer is not the end of life; if we provide them (people) with this education, we believe they will get rid of that fear and instead build the habit of conducting regular checkup of their health and if diagnosed with the diseases they can start early treatment,” he noted.
