Tanzania grapples with high cancer cases
Over 30,000 people have tested positive for prostate, breast and colon cancers in Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and Mwanza regions under the Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP) initiative.
Out of 800,000 residents who have been screened so far for various cancers, 30,000 turned out positive and have been diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease, The Citizen reports.
“Deployed in Tanzania’s two most populous regions (Dar es Salaam and Mwanza), TCCP’s goal was to improve the organisation and quality of care provided in the country through financial and quality of care provided in the country through financial, technical, and material support, and so far, we have managed to do,” said TCCP Project Manager, Dr Harrison Chuwa.
Chuwa said out of the number of positive tests, 70 percent are women who have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and breast cancer at varying stages while most of the diagnoses for men have been prostate and colon cancers.
“I have been hesitant to present the report of the performance of the mammogram machine to the funders of this project due to the low number of people who have managed to be screened at Bugando. I urge you (Oncology HOD) to increase efforts by screening more people…
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"There is only one mammography in the city of Mwanza for the several million inhabitants. However, this single mammogram accounted for at least 1 or 2 mammograms per week at the beginning of our work. In other words, some days, no woman came to be tested, and this is due to the low exposure of people to medical testing,” said Chuwa while addressing the issue of the availability of equipment for the screening and the general turnout.
The TCCP initiative is sponsored jointly by the Agence Française de Dévelopment (AFD) and the Aga Khan Health Service Tanzania (AKHS) worth Sh39 billion ($15 million).
