Tanzania allocates Sh11 billion for new cancer center in Mbeya

The Tanzanian government has allocated Sh11 billion to build a new cancer center at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH). This investment aims to make cancer services more accessible to people in the Southern Highlands, reducing the financial burden and travel difficulties associated with seeking treatment elsewhere. The center is also expected to serve patients from neighboring countries.

Dr. Diwani Msemo, Executive Director of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute, announced the funding on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during a board committee visit to inspect the construction progress. He stated that the new facility is part of the government's strategy to distribute specialized and advanced medical services across the country. This initiative aligns with the 2012-2022 national cancer control strategy, which aimed to expand services.

Currently, Tanzania faces a significant cancer burden, with an estimated 45,000 new cases diagnosed annually and about 30,000 deaths. The establishment of the Mbeya cancer center is a crucial step towards improving survival rates and providing timely care to a larger population, particularly in regions far from existing specialized facilities like the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Dar es Salaam.

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In the government's strategy to combat cancer for the 2012 period of 10 years, the Ocean Road Institute was given the task