A team of specialist doctors under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s health initiative has offered new hope to Ms. Veronica Modest, 38, after successfully performing a life-saving breast cancer surgery at Muheza District Hospital in Tanga Region.
Speaking before the procedure, Ms. Modest revealed that she had been struggling with the condition for over seven months.
It was only after receiving care from President Samia’s visiting medical specialists that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and scheduled for immediate surgery to remove the affected breast.
"At first, I noticed a lump in my breast, but it wasn't painful. I sought help at local clinics, but they couldn’t identify the problem. They assumed it was a boil and gave me medication for that, but my condition continued to worsen. When I heard that President Samia’s team of specialist doctors would be visiting, I decided to come here and that decision saved my life," said Ms. Modest.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the government led by President Samia for deploying medical specialist outreach teams to district hospitals, emphasizing that such services are a lifeline for citizens who lack access to advanced care.
In another case, Ms. Fadhila Kibwana, the mother of 13-year-old Rehema Ally Rashid, praised the medical team after her daughter underwent surgery to remove a tumor from her right breast. The tumor was discovered during a screening conducted by the same team of specialists at the hospital.
"Initially, I thought it was just normal physical development in a young girl, especially since it didn’t cause her any pain. But as time went on, I noticed a difference in the size of her breasts. When we heard that President Samia’s doctors were coming to our district, we came for a checkup. After examination, they confirmed it was a tumor and told us that surgery was necessary," Ms. Kibwana explained.
Dr. Julius Mollel, one of the lead specialists, confirmed that the surgery was successful. He reported that the tumor removed from the girl's breast weighed 450 grams.
He urged the public to prioritize early detection by performing regular breast self-examinations and seeking medical attention promptly when abnormalities are noticed.
“Early diagnosis is key. If people come in as soon as they notice any unusual changes, we can often treat conditions before they become life-threatening,” said Dr. Mollel.