Visit Of The Delegates From University Of Dar Es Salaam-Mbeya College Of Health And Aliened Sciences (UDSM-MCHAS) At TAEC
The Depute Vice Chancellor Academic from the University of Dar es salaam Prof. Bonaventure Rutinwa led a team of delegates from Mbeya College of Health and Aliened Sciences (UDSMMCHAS) who visited TAEC today on 14th December 2018, for consultation on establishing the cancer treatment facility at Mbeya Zonal Regional Hospital.
The plan to establish Cancer facility in Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH) has been identified in the National Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) and the existing CCM manifesto. The strategic center is expected to save 8 regions of the Southern highland of Tanzania and the population of 10 million people, as well as the neighboring countries.
Cancer is now recognized globally as one of the leading non-communicable diseases; globally different cancers contribute to over 9.6 million deaths equivalent to 13% of total global mortality) each year and this figure is projected to rise to nearly 12 million unless the problem is addressed urgently.
Tanzania is not spared from the devastating effects of cancer; it is estimated that 42,000 new cancer cases are reported and about 28,000 die every year and the number is reported to be increasing both in Tanzania and worldwide.
Although only 19% of cancer cases reach the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) and Bugando Medical Center (BMC) for treatment, 70 – 80% of cases report to the institutes at late stages of the disease. Moreover, knowledge on cancer prevention, cure and care is still low to many people including the victims of the disease despite the fact that one third of cancer can be prevented and early detected with effective treatment of a further third is also possible.