KCMC Treats Roughly 1,500 New Cancer Patients Annually

Why this is here: KCMC has provided complete radiation therapy to 80 children since beginning the service this year, improving access to care in northern Tanzania.

Professor Gileard Masenga, director of the KCMC Hospital in Moshi, Tanzania, stated that about 40% of the cancer patients receiving radiation therapy at the facility are children. KCMC sees approximately 6,000 cancer patients each year, with roughly 1,500 being new cases. The hospital now offers complete cancer treatment, eliminating the need to send patients to Ocean Road Cancer Institute.

Professor Masenga noted that many childhood cancers are curable with early detection and comprehensive treatment, which can last from six months to two years. Leukemia, eye cancers, and tumors are common among the children they treat. However, delayed diagnosis remains a challenge, as families and smaller hospitals may initially mistake cancer symptoms for common illnesses like persistent fever.

Since offering radiation therapy this year, KCMC has successfully treated 80 children. Doctor Ester Majaliwa emphasizes that cancer is a treatable disease, especially when identified early, and encourages parents to seek further testing for children with prolonged illness. The hospital continues to seek support from the community to meet the needs of young patients.