Studies have revealed that cervical cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer are amongst the top ten types of cancers that hugely affect communities in Tanzania.

Dr Beda Mlamala, a cancer expert from Buganda Hospital in Mwanza, made those remarks during the journalists’ training in Mwanza that French Development Agency and Agha Khan supported. 

“Lack of cancer data in Tanzania is one major reason for the growth of the problem within our communities”, – Said Dr Beda

According to Dr Beda, globally, over 40,000 are diagnosed with cervical cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer annually. In 2018 Tanzania had the fourth-highest incidence rate of cervical cancer globally, with 59.1 new cases per 100,000 women, and more than 3000 are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Tanzania.

According to Dr Beda, history shows that the world has been able to control and defeat many infectious diseases. But for now, the world is facing the conundrum of non-infectious diseases that are rampantly growing that the world needs to take serious measures to fight back.

To effectively mitigate the problem, Dr Beda insisted on the availability of valid data on cancer, treatment, education, and good medical infrastructure that would allow early diagnosis of the diseases for immediate intervention.