KILIMANJARO: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to conduct a working visit to Kilimanjaro Region on June 24, 2026, where she will officially inaugurate the Radiotherapy Building at the Northern Zone Referral Hospital (KCMC), valued at 17bn/-.
Speaking on preparations for the visit, Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu said this will be President Samia’s first visit to the region since assuming office as President of Tanzania.
Babu called on citizens to turn out in large numbers to welcome and show support for the President, noting that KCMC is a key institution with a major contribution to the country’s health sector.
He said the government continues to allocate approximately TSh 1 billion every month to the hospital to support various operational needs as part of efforts to improve healthcare service delivery.
For his part, KCMC Executive Director, Prof. Gileard Masenga, said President Samia’s visit to inaugurate the facility is a great honour for Kilimanjaro Region and the entire Northern Zone.
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Prof. Masenga said the radiotherapy service will significantly reduce the burden on cancer patients who previously had to travel over 600 kilometres to Dar es Salaam for treatment.
He noted that the unit has so far received 80 cancer patients, adding that out of every 10 patients admitted to the hospital, most are treated for injuries and various diseases, while others suffer from non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.
He further explained that the facility currently operates with two radiotherapy machines capable of serving about 30 patients per month, equivalent to 1,500 patients per year.
He added that if the hospital acquires the required five machines, capacity would increase significantly, enabling treatment of up to 5,000 patients annually.
Prof. Masenga also urged citizens to undergo regular cancer screening to enable early detection and improve treatment outcomes.