Government pledges commitment to cancer care programme

The Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP) has been promised support by the government, saying the strides achieved by the project will be sustained because the novel Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project would effectively put the country on the world map in combating cancer.

The project, implemented under the auspices of Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania, was established in 2019 and is expected to end on December 31, 2023.

Institute Curie has played a pivotal role in providing technical expertise to shape the TCCP and guide its implementation, aligning with the objectives set by the project funders Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) through the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF).

The TCCP was a PPP that was established to complement Government efforts in addressing the challenges facing cancer care in Tanzania.

And, speaking during a meeting that was convened by the Steering Committee of the TCCP recently here in Paris, France, the Director of Curative Services (DCS) in the Ministry of Health in Tanzania, Prof Paschal Rugajjo, said the government was committed to ensuring that the strides achieved by the project will be sustained even beyond the project duration.

He assured the stakeholders that the upcoming Aga Khan Cancer Care Centre in Dar es Salaam will work hand-in-hand with the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) and will be accredited by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to increase access for the population to much-needed radiotherapy and other cancer services in the country.

Speaking at the forum, the Charge de Affaire, representing the Ambassador of the Tanzanian Embassy in France, Mr. Khamis Omar, urged the funders and the project partners to continue to seek opportunities for funding to ensure the continuity of the project.

French Ambassador to Tanzania Nabil Hajlaoui said: “TCCP is financed by France through AFD and AKDN through AKF with the goal to strengthen and expand the quality, access, and capacity of cancer care services across the cancer continuum in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. “The project success is a testament to the power harnessed through public-private partnership in combating cancer in Tanzania. The project has sensitized over 4.45 million people, screened over 673,000 people, and treated over 29,700 patients in the 4 years of its implementation. These achievements are phenomenon.”

The project aims to strengthen and expand the quality, access, and capacity of cancer care services in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza regions to improve cancer infrastructure, capacity building, community engagement, research, and partnerships.

It signifies the collective commitment and dedication of stakeholders to prioritizing cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support, focusing on improving the continuum of cancer services across both public and private healthcare providers in Tanzania.

During the Steering Committee meeting in Paris President of the Board of Institut Curie Paris, Prof Thierry Philip, said the project is implementing an evidence-based approach/strategy that adopts developed world standards to suit low-middle income country settings.

It also demonstrates that there is adequate local capacity to implement such a massive project with minimal oversight from foreign experts. Hence, it is important to engage local experts to participate in project designing, implementation and sustainability.

Speaking at the symposium, the Guest of Honour, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, commented: “This project adopts a holistic approach, not only towards cancer care, prevention, and treatment but also survivorship and civil society engagement and empowerment. By focusing on the entire continuum of care for cancer, from education and awareness to palliative care, the project aims to address the diverse needs of individuals and families affected by this devastating disease. I am grateful to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, which is represented today by Khamis Omar, Charge de Affaires, Tanzanian Embassy in France; Prof Paschal Rugajjo from the Tanzania Ministry of Health; and Dr Yahaya Hussein from the President’s Office. The foresight and vision you have shown in bringing us together to establish this public-private partnership focused on cancer, which is the second leading cause of death among women and the fifth leading cause of death among men in the country, is timely and remarkable.”

“I am very proud and grateful for the hard work and dedication of all my Aga Khan Development Network colleagues, especially those associated with the TCCP and the Regional Health Management Teams in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza.”

The Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania follows an integrated approach to delivering healthcare based on a continuum of care ranging from health promotion and prevention to primary health services offered through outreach health centres to secondary-level care provided at larger medical centres and tertiary care. At each level of care, Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania, focuses on providing services needed by the community and building linkages within the local healthcare systems. The Cancer Care Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam and TCCP will play an essential role in this integrated system,” further noted Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

Dr Gijs Walraven, Director of Health, Aga Khan Development Network in his remarks said “Building sustainable health care infrastructures, training health care professionals, and improving access to early diagnosis, essential cancer medicines and technologies are vital steps towards reducing the burden of cancer in LMICs. International partnerships and collaborations can play a pivotal role in transferring knowledge, sharing best practices, and supporting capacity-building efforts. As such, we as AKDN welcome the opportunity to continue working with AFD, Institut Curie, and other like-minded organizations, as well as governments on similar programs in countries and regions where we have a footprint.”

Aga Khan Health Services is committed to upholding a quality culture within all its service delivery centres with the guiding principle to be the best, offer excellent quality services and specialized health care programmes, and remain the most significant private non-profit organization operating under the AKDN.