Tanzania, Kenya join forces to tackle rising cancer burden in women and girls
The AFD Group CEO, Mr Rémy Rioux (second right), the Regional CEO of Aga Khan Health Services, East Africa, Dr Zeenat Sulaiman Khan (centre), and the French Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Anne Sophie (left), pose for a photo during the signing of the East Africa Comprehensive Cancer Project. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT
What you need to know:
- Available statistics show that cancer rates in Kenya and Tanzania have been on the rise, with nearly 100,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths reported annually. Women bear the greatest burden, accounting for 61 percent of cancer cases in East Africa.
Dar es Salaam. Women and girls in Tanzania and Kenya are set to benefit from a major boost in breast and cervical cancer screening through the East Africa Comprehensive Cancer Project.
The Sh27 billion project is a collaboration between Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) in Kenya and Tanzania, the Aga Khan Foundation, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group, and the Gates Foundation.
Available statistics show that cancer rates in Kenya and Tanzania have been on the rise, with nearly 100,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths reported annually. Women bear the greatest burden, accounting for 61 percent of cancer cases in East Africa.
The project aims to provide services to 400,000 women while also targeting a Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for 200,000 nine-year-old girls annually in Tanzania and 600,000 girls aged 10-14 in Kenya.
Speaking yesterday at the project’s launch, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Seif Shekalaghe, outlined four key areas of focus to tackle cancer challenges in Tanzania.
“The first step is training healthcare workers in oncology. This knowledge is crucial not only at the national level but also at the district level to improve early detection and treatment,” he said.
Dr Shekalaghe stressed the importance of community education, saying, “If communities recognize signs or symptoms of cancer, they should seek medical attention immediately. To save lives, we must invest in raising awareness among the public.”
On research, Dr Shekalaghe noted, “We must conduct studies on the causes of the rising cancer cases. Why were these cases fewer five to ten years ago? Research will help us find answers and develop targeted interventions.”
He also called for collaboration among healthcare institutions, stating, “Aga Khan Hospital should work with other facilities to pool resources and expertise in the fight against cancer.”
The French Ambassador to Tanzania, Anne-Sophie, expressed optimism about the project’s impact.
“By combining French expertise with the local knowledge and capacity of Tanzanian institutions, we are building stronger health systems while fostering mutual respect and learning,” she said.
Ms Sophie highlighted the focus on empowering women, noting, “Women are the backbone of communities. When they work, they support families and educate children. Sadly, cancers often affect them too late for effective treatment. Raising awareness and training healthcare workers will lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.”
On the other hand, the regional CEO of Aga Khan Health Services, East Africa, Dr Zeenat Sulaiman Khan, elaborated on the project’s scope, which will be implemented in six regions in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Dodoma, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar) and four counties in Kenya (Mombasa, Kisumu, Kilifi, and Homa Bay).
“The East Africa Comprehensive Cancer Project (EA-CCP) is a unique four-year initiative aimed at advancing cancer care through partnerships with health ministries, hospitals, and other stakeholders,” Dr Khan said.
Dr Khan added that the reason why they choose six regions is because the studies of their clinicians and their researchers have shown the specific type of diseases present in these regions.
“So the prioritisation is also done with the government to go there. So that's some of the criteria we use to go from to six,” she shared.
She also mentioned that major facilities such as Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Bugando Medical Centre, and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre were among those involved.
According to AFD Group CEO, Rémy Rioux, reaffirmed France's support for Tanzania’s development.
“For over 15 years, we have supported sustainable development across various sectors. Health is a common good, and we are proud to collaborate with the Aga Khan Development Network and Institut Curie on this project,” he shared.
Over the programme’s duration of four years, the project aims to vaccinate 800,000 girls in Tanzania and 2.4 million in Kenya.
With its comprehensive approach, the project is expected to significantly improve cancer prevention and treatment, offering hope to millions across East Africa.
