Mwanza, Tanzania, 10th March 2022, at Bugando Medical Centre, government officials, development partners, healthcare stakeholders, and dignitaries attended the launch ceremony of The Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP) and inauguration of the 1st 3D Mammography machine in the Lake Zone. TCCP is a four-year €13.3 million, private-public collaborative project funded by the Agence Française de Development (AFD) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in target regions of Tanzania: Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. The event was accompanied by community events that involved a community walk to ‘Beat Cancer,’ a round table discussion, and a cancer screening event at The Aga Khan Hospital, Mwanza.
The project collaborators are the Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania (AKHST), Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), Aga Khan Foundation Tanzania (AKFT), Aga Khan University (AKU) and Institut Curie under the guidance of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).
TCCP implementation commenced in January 2020, and it is estimated to support 100 public health facilities in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, together with AKHST Outreach clinics and medical centres. Since the project commenced, it has trained over 330 healthcare workers in cervical and breast cancer screening and other vital training for cancer care. In two years, TCCP has procured and installed TZS 1bn worth of equipment at Ocean Road Cancer Institute and Bugando Medical Centre- including the mammography machine that is inaugurated today. The project uses a comprehensive approach to combat cancer, involving communities and building capacity to over 400 community health care workers, and raising awareness by printing and distributing over 3,000 books and 5,000 Information, Communications and Education (ICE) materials.
Addressing the social and financial commitments in this Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project Mrs. Stéphanie MOUEN, Country Director Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in Tanzania said “The contribution to the maintenance and the commissioning of public equipment through capacity building initiatives between Aga Khan biomedical engineers, maintenance contractors, and public facility partners are the desired impacts expected to be delivered. This new state-of-the-art mammography machine at BMC is the first of its kind in the lake zone, and is expected to cater to a population of almost 12 million people in screening women and addressing breast cancer at a very early stage”.
The joint commitment of stakeholders to transform cancer treatment through an unprecedented cooperation agreement addresses the precarious situation of cancer in Tanzania in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With only seven radiotherapy devices and six tumour diagnostic laboratories, Tanzania remains underequipped to treat cancer comprehensively.
“This project aims to complement the government efforts towards reducing cancer morbidity and mortality,” said Minister of Health Ummy Mwalimu. “The government cannot single-handedly combat the growing burden of cancer, hence we commend TCCP for their innovation towards demonstrating the success of public-private collaboration to control cancer in the country”.
This public-private collaboration covers Aga Khan Hospital and public hospitals, and it has incorporated public awareness while improving diagnosis. The ripple effect of TCCP has seen institutions and local government efforts seize the project to invest in infrastructure for cancer treatment towards a national cancer plan. In Mwanza, Bugando Medical Centre is constructing a new building dedicated to cancer treatment. The Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam is now investing in a state-of-the-art two-story oncology unit that is expected to lift ground from 2024 to improve access to screening.
“This is a public-private collaboration that includes civil society and cancer stakeholders with the support of Institute Curie, France,” said AKHS, T CEO, Sisawo Konteh. “TCCP will expand, improve and rejuvenate the quality of cancer care in the cancer treatment hospitals in both the public and private sector. We can raise awareness at grassroots levels through comprehensive Community Engagement by promoting early detection and creating a referral system to ensure early treatment”.
**END
About AFD:
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France.
With our partners, we are building shared solutions. Our teams are at work on more than 4,000 projects in the field, in the French Overseas Departments and Territories, in 115 countries and in regions in crisis. We strive to protect global public goods – promoting a stable climate, biodiversity and peace, as well as gender equality, education and healthcare. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and the French people to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Towards a world in common.
About AKDN:
Founded and guided by His Highness the Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private international development agencies that works to improve the quality of life and to create opportunities for people around the world. Its approach to development spans a range of cultural, social, economic, and environmental endeavors. The mandates of its agencies include education and health, agriculture and food security, micro-finance, human habitat, crisis response, and disaster reduction, protection of the environment, art, music, architecture, urban planning and conservation, and cultural heritage and preservation. A principal focus for the AKDN is the enhancement of a pluralist civil society as an underwriter of human progress. Recognizing interdependence, upholding the dignity of life and valuing partnership, the AKDN seeks to promote peace and stability, nurture innovation and create an enabling environment that allows all, regardless of their differences, to realize their full potential.
Media Contact:
For more information please contact:
Oreyo-Pierronnet – Regional Communication Manager for Eastern Africa, AFD
oreyopierronnetb@afd.fr / +254 759 637 405
Olayce Steve Lota- Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania
olayce.liotaz@akhst.org/ +255 717 516 650
Lusia Mushi- TCCP Coordinater
Lusia.mushi@akhst.org/ +255 759 533 415