{COLLABORATION with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), has increased the number of oncologists at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), from three in 2010 to 25.}
ORCI Deputy Executive Director, Dr Julius Mwaiselage revealed this during the World Cancer Day which was commemorated this week in which the institution provided free cancer screening services to Dar es Salaam residents.
“The collaboration with MUHAS to provide our doctors with Master of Medicine in Clinical Oncology has boosted up our capacity to serve the increasing number of cancer patients in the country” he said.
He explained that in 2000 to 2005, the institution received about 2400 to 2500 cancer patients while between the years 2006 to 2015, there have been about 56,000 cancer patients.
Up to this year, there has been a rise in new cancer cases to about 100 percent from 2006 according to a report from ORCI and Muhimbili National Hospital.
Meanwhile the construction of a new Radiotherapy building for expansion of Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), is to be completed by March this year in order to serve the increasing cancer cases in the country.
Currently ORCI has only three radiotherapy machines to treat the cancer patients who come from all parts of the country.
“The institution needs to have at least eight machines to cater for the growing number of cancer patients that come for treatment in our hospital,” he said.
At the moment, he said, the government is processing to procure two more radiotherapy machines to boost up the capacity of the institution to treat the rising cancer cases.
Though there are more than 100 kind of cancers existing, Tanzania suffers from four most common types, which are skin cancer, mostly affecting albinos, cervical cancer on women, prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for both, though common to women. He further advised women at their 30s to have frequent tests for breast and cervical cancer while men at their 50’s should do the same to test for prostate cancer.
However, those with cancer in their family medical history should start annual cancer tests even below the advised age. However he said the good news is that cancer can be prevented with the right education, frequent medical test and change of life style by observing proper diet and physical activity.
In another development, the Executive Director for Tanzania Tobacco Control Forum for a Tobacco Free Tanzania, Ms Lulgard Kokulinda Kagaruki urged the government to make laws and policies guiding tobacco growing and uses in the country to minimize development of new cancer cases.
She said the youth are at a greater risk due to peer pressure and the introduction of shisha and electronic cigarettes which prompts them to experience.
She added that tobacco, shisha and cigarettes are smoked openly in public areas which endanger the health of others and themselves.
Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer in Tanzania, where the average smoking rate stands at 14.1 percent, which is boosted by the rapid increase rate of smoking among the youth and the introduction of shisha and electronic cigarettes.
Studies at ORCI and Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), in 2009 indicated that 32 percent of all cancers were due to tobacco use which cost the nation USD 40m.
Cancer is a complex group of diseases with many possible causes that includes genetic factors; lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet, and physical activity; certain types of infections; and environmental exposures to differently.
Source:Daily News:[Increase in cancer worries experts->http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/46719-increase-in-cancer-worries-experts]
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