First Tanzanian Doctors to study Masters in Children's Cancer

Two Tanzanian Doctors, Dr. Rehema Laiti and Dr Shakilu Kayungo will be the first Doctors in Tanzania to study for a newly developed Masters in Paediatric Haematology/Oncology at “MUHAS” Muhimbili University for Health and Allied Sciences. 

They have received scholarships from the Karimjee Jivanjee Foundation to fund their two years study including a 3 month international work experience in hospitals in Ireland. The cost of the scholarships provided by Karimjee Jivanjee Foundation is Tshs 70 million.

Tanzania has pledged through the National Cancer Plan to make cancer care free for all patients. The Rotary Paediatric Oncology (Cancer) Ward at Muhimbili National Hospital is the only dedicated children’s cancer ward in Tanzania and all treatment is provided free of charge. The ward treats between 400-500 new cases annually. Children in Crossfire is an Irish NGO that has worked on children with cancer since 2008. A new ward was completed under their supervision in 2013 and funded by Six Rotary Clubs in Dar es Salaam at a cost of US $700,000.

 Children in Crossfire have made significant improvements in cancer treatment by supplying drugs and training nurses. An Irish children’s cancer specialist, Dr Trish Scanlan has managed the Paediatric Oncology services since 2007 and with the dedicated team of Tanzanian doctors and nurses, is responsible for increasing the long term survival rates of children with cancer from approximately 5% to 40-50%. 

Mr Hatim Karimjee, Chairman of Karimjee Jivanjee Foundation, said “It is now time for us to train Tanzanian doctors in this specialised field of Paediatric Oncology, and that is why we have agreed to provide scholarships to two Doctors”. Dr Trish Scanlan said that “The foundation for long term sustainability in clinical services is the establishment of local capacity in treating children with cancer. This requires qualified Tanzanian doctors working in hospitals around the country”.

Currently Tanzania does not have a single qualified Paediatric Oncologist apart from Dr Trish Scanlan. Doctors Dr Rehema Laiti and Dr Shakilu Kayungo are expected to be the first Tanzanian Paediatric Oncologists.  

The Karimjee Jivanjee Foundation is a charitable foundation established by the Karimjee family. It provides funding for enhancing Education in Tanzania. This is achieved by providing scholarships to Tanzanians to study at graduate and post graduate level in Tanzania. The Karimjee Foundation currently has 50 scholars studying in Tanzania.