OMAHA, NE — Three cancer centers serve the entire country of Tanzania - about 60 million people. Dr. Furaha Serventi and Dr. Gileard Masenga, from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre,visited the United States for the first time this week to learn more about cancer treatments, and fundraising to improve the cancer center in Moshi, Tanzania.
Monday, they visited with Dr. Luke Nordquist at Urology Cancer Centerin Omaha. The men originally met in August when Dr. Nordquist visited Mount Kilimanjaro and saw their cancer center (KCMC.)
"I think something brought us together," Dr. Nordquist said. "It's spiritual. There is a reason I went to Kilimanjaro, there is a reason we met, and there is a reason we bonded."
In the United States, many cancers can be treated due to early detection, which Dr. Nordquist learned is an obstacle in Tanzania.
"Most of our patients come at the late stage," Dr. Serventi said. "80-percent come with advanced and metastatic disease. This is an opportunity for us to go to the community and teach. Also teach the health system at the primary level for early detection and appropriate referral to the cancer center."
In addition to teaching people about the early signs of cancer, they want to build a hostel near KCMC.
"Patients from long distances are not able to go and come back due to transportation issues," Serventi said. "A hostel for patients diagnosed with cancer would offer optimal care but will also enable patients to finish their treatment."
Dr. Nordquist is hoping to help raise $250,000 to build the hostel which will accommodate 50 families for treatment.
Dr. Nordquist is establishing a cancer foundation to help KCMC. For more information contact the Urology Cancer Center at 402-991-8468.
