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 of  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.