By Nicodemus Ikonko
Arusha’s Mt Meru Regional Referral Hospital will in the next two weeks commission a state-of-the-art digital screening machine for breast problems in women, billed to drastically reduce diagnosis costs.
The hospital’s Radiologist, Mr Lwitiko Mwaipopo, told The Arusha News that the Sh 460m machine was received from South Korea last month. It will eliminate the need for patients to travel nearly 100 kilometres east to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi for similar services, he explained.
“Over 90 per cent of women aged 45 and older are at risk of developing breast cancer,” said Mr Mwaipopo, adding; with the machine they will be able to quickly screen up to 100 patients a week at “fairly reduced cost.” He did not say how much it would cost but standard breast screening elsewhere in the country costs about Sh 100,000.
Radiographer, Mr Benedict Valentine, noted that with the machine, it would take about five minutes only to complete one screening, contrasted against an hour the process currently takes using a manual machine.
Also, Mt Meru Hospital plans to establish a dedicated Breast Cancer Clinic in the near future to enhance research, risk prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of the deadly disease. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in Tanzania. The exact prevalence rate varies, but it is a significant health concern, especially among middle-aged women.
The mortality rate remains relatively high, partly due to late diagnosis and limited access to effective treatment. Mt Meru Hospital provides a range of services, including general medicine, surgery, pediatrics and specialised care such as obstetrics and gynaecology.
Also, the hospital also plays a crucial role in public health outreach and education in the region. Last month, it introduced a VIP Service Unit to cater for foreigners, tourists and visiting dignitaries to the country’s diplomatic and tourism hub.
