President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the government will soon finish building a designated room for cancer radiation machines at Bugando Hospital, due to Ocean Road Cancer Institute having more patients from lake regions.
Speaking at the hospital’s 50th anniversary, President Samia made it clear that 50% of all cancer patients at ORCI are from the lake zone while women are the most affected.
She ordered experts to come together and get to the root of the problem.
“Conduct research to find out the causes of these cancers and why people from the Lake Zone are the biggest victims,” she said adding that women are the most affected with cervical and breast cancer.
The President applauded the Catholic Church which works with the government to run this hospital which caters for about a quarter of the country’s population from eight regions, equivalent to 14 million people, and asked the hospital management to continue taking great care of their patients.
“If you can restore a person’s health and treat them so they can continue with their daily activities, it is a great sacrifice,” she added.
Lake zone regions include; Mwanza, Geita, Kagera, Shinyanga, Mara and Simiyu