Cancer treatment brought closer to residents of northern Tanzania

Cancer patients in Arusha and neighboring regions no longer need to travel as far for treatment after Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital began offering drug-based cancer care.

The hospital launched the service in April after the Aga Khan health services organization provided equipment and trained its staff. More than 50 patients have already received treatment, according to Dr. Aesha Ramadhan, a cancer specialist at Mount Meru.

The hospital provides chemotherapy and other cancer treatments administered intravenously. Patients come from Arusha, Manyara and nearby areas, including people who previously had to travel long distances to reach treatment centers.

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We provide chemotherapy and other cancer treatments administered intravenously, which are among the important treatments for cancer patients.

“We have brought the service closer to them,” Dr. Aesha said. She said long journeys to receive treatment and return home had placed a heavy burden on many patients. Receiving care nearby can help patients complete treatment on time and return home.

The service forms part of the East Africa Cervical Cancer and Women’s Cancer Project, funded by the French Development Agency, the Gates Foundation and the Aga Khan organization. The project operates in Tanzania and Kenya and aims to reach more than seven million people through cancer prevention, screening and treatment, while strengthening health systems, infrastructure, equipment and staff skills.

Bringing cancer services closer to communities is also helping provide information about the disease and challenge misconceptions that can delay screening and treatment. Catherine Marko, a resident of Kisongo in Arusha, said she did not know she was at risk of breast cancer until an Aga Khan health team visited her area through an outreach clinic and provided a free initial health screening.

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We have brought the service closer to them. Transporting a cancer patient a long distance to receive treatment and return has been hurting many patients.