Tanzania: First phase of cancer screening successfully ends

The first phase of the cervical cancer screening camp was a record success in testing more than 3,000 women aged 25 to 65, said Health Minister Hamad Rashid Mohamed.

He said 11 out of 3,013 women were tested positive, while 48 women had obvious symptoms that required prompt treatment. Chinese doctors in Jiangsu Province set up the testing camp and began the screening process on December 3rd.

"We thank the medical team for organizing a free cancer screening for women.The camp of nearly a month was to reach 3,000 people, but 13 other women came forward, proof that many were motivated to pass a health check, "said Mohamed. during the farewell ceremony of Chinese doctors.

He expressed concern that voter turnout may be low, but they were relieved to see that the number of women of the required age is increasing every day, many of them showing interest in knowing their status. health.

The cervical cancer screening camp was set up at the Mnazi-Mmoja referral hospital, but the minister asked the Chinese government to extend the exercise to others hospitals so that more women can be reached in the second phase, expected later this year (2019), targeting 10,000 women in Unguja and Pemba.

China has been providing medical assistance to Zanzibar since the 1964 revolution, as part of the "Goodwill Ambassador" cancer project.

Ms. Mgeni Hassan Juma, Vice President of the House of Representatives in Zanzibar, said the government's future plan was to make cancer screening a normal exercise in most hospitals.

Ms. Juma said: "But while waiting for the development, I urge my colleagues in Unguja and Pemba to be screened for cervical cancer at the next camp scheduled for June this year.

The disease is curable if it is discovered at an early stage. "