Field research cancer in Pemba

 

The NGO “Zanzibar Organisation for Women & Children Health Care and Support” was founded in 1994 by Dr. Nasor, a retired medical doctor. The organisation has the purpose to inform the rural population of Zanzibar and Pemba Island about the early diagnosis of breast cancer, hygiene and about a balanced nutrition.

 

The organisation has a program of awareness training in cooperation with the Tanzanian healthcare authorities, an association of women’s journalists and with medical specialists from the mainland of Tanzania. Another program includes preventive medical checkups free of charge for villagers. Children who fell ill with cancer are medically and financially supported by the organisation. Another area of awareness training covers the illness of anaemia which in many cases has its origins in malnutrition.

 

Diseases which affect women such as breast cancer are a delicate issue in the Islamic countryside society of the Zanzibar archipelago. The issues can in most instances not be addressed publicly; many husbands don’t allow their wives to take part in preventive medical checkups by doctors. This is the main reason why there are many cases of breast cancer which are not treated adequately. According to the organisation, however also other kinds of cancers occur more often than usual on the island of Pemba. However this is only a perception of the doctors working with the organisation which is not based on statistical evidence. Also the reasons for a potential above-average number of cases of cancer are not clear.

 

The organisation is looking for students or graduates from the field of medicine/health care who want to do field research about the cases of cancer on Pemba Island. This project is also appropriate for doctoral dissertations. The volunteer will be generously supported by the organisation.

 

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