Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has said Tanzania is positioning itself to become a centre of excellence for cancer treatment expertise and training in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at the IAEA Scientific Forum in Vienna, Austria, he said Tanzania has made significant progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment through investments made by the government under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He noted that key achievements include increasing HPV vaccination coverage among girls aged 9 to 14 from 58 percent in 2018 to 98 percent in 2026, while the number of radiotherapy centres has grown from three in 2020 to six in 2026.

The government has also expanded access to advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, including PET-Scan, MRI, LINAC, CT Scan and mammography services. Tanzania aims to establish nine comprehensive cancer care centres across six strategic zones in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar by 2030.

The Vice President called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international partners to continue supporting Tanzania through the Rays of Hope initiative and to designate the Ocean Road Cancer Institute as a regional centre of excellence for cancer training and capacity building for African health professionals.

The move is intended to strengthen Tanzania’s position as a leading hub for cancer care, expertise and advanced treatment technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa.