DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has made significant progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment and is seeking to position itself as a regional center of excellence for cancer care and training, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the communication unit of the Vice President's Office.
Tanzanian Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi said the government investment had expanded cancer services from primary to specialized healthcare levels while addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Scientific Forum in Vienna on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He said coverage of the single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls aged 9 to 14 increased from 58 percent in 2018 to 98 percent in 2026.
The number of radiotherapy centers also increased from three in 2020 to six in 2026, raising access to radiotherapy services from 14 percent to 26 percent and benefiting about 6,500 patients, he said.
Tanzania plans to establish nine comprehensive cancer centers across six strategic zones in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar by 2030, the statement said.
Ndejembi added that Tanzania had begun using a PET-CT scanner linked to a cyclotron for advanced cancer diagnosis, becoming one of the first 10 African countries to offer the technology. ■