FROM THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER IN MOSHI
Kilimanjaro Region recorded the highest number of cancer cases among five population-based registries surveyed between 2019 and 2023, according to newly released findings from the Ministry of Health.
The Tanzania Cancer Registry report documented 16,516 cancer cases over the five-year period across registries in Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya and Dodoma. Of those, Kilimanjaro accounted for 6,161 cases, representing 37.3 per cent of the total recorded cases.
The registry profile shows prostate cancer as the leading cancer among men in Kilimanjaro with 940 cases, while cervical cancer was the most common among women at 611 cases.
However, when adjusted for population size using age-standardised incidence rates (ASR), Dodoma recorded the highest incidence rates for both sexes. Kilimanjaro ranked second for males and fourth for females among the five registries.
Health experts note that higher case numbers in Kilimanjaro may partly reflect stronger diagnostic capacity and reporting systems, particularly around the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, which serves as a major referral and oncology hub for northern Tanzania, including Arusha Region.
Although Arusha does not yet have a population-based cancer registry included in the national report, many patients from the region are diagnosed and treated through facilities linked to the Kilimanjaro registry.
The ministry emphasised that cancer registry data are essential for planning, monitoring and evaluating national cancer control programmes, including screening and early detection initiatives.
Medical professionals stress that early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes, while cautioning that cancer comprises many different diseases requiring varied prevention and treatment approaches.
