By Akanimo Sampson
A cancer facility is set to be constructed at Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital in Tanzania. Stakeholders recently raised $577,835.27 towards the project.
About $20,138 was cash while $530,401.03 was pledges. Some stakeholders contributing 20 iron sheets and 3,325 cement bags worth $31,543.77.
Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, who led the fundraising event in the city, said the government has already set aside $431,220.35 for the project.
“The government wants to ensure all Tanzanians have access to best cancer treatment. However, I urge residents to cultivate a regular health testing culture for timely treatment”, she said.
She further expressed her gratitude to Bugando management for contributing $431,220.35. “I also praise you all who have participated in this exercise. Once in use, the facility will have the capacity to accommodate 120 patients per day”, said Dr. Gwajima.
The hospital’s Acting Director, Dr. Fabian Massaga, said the hospital was serving more than 17 million people from across the Lake Zone and neighbouring regions, mostly Kigoma and Tabora. It serves an average of 1,000 patients per day, equivalent to 365,000 per year.
“Cancer is a scourge that causes great pain and suffering as well as deaths for Tanzanians, thus, it is important to have a cancer centre. Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths in the world. In every 100,000 people, 76 are suffering from the disease. Cancer-related deaths reach 68 per 100 patients”, said Dr. Massaga.
A resident of Biharamulo in Kagera Region, Ms Levina Ngahyoma, says cancer is treatable once diagnosed and treated in an early stage. She however urged the government to reduce the cost of cancer treatment so that many patients could have treatment.
