I am seeking support for a capacity-building oncology visit to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania, in January 2026. KCMC has provided chemotherapy services since 2016 and is preparing for a major expansion with the launch of its first radiotherapy program in late 2025. This is a pivotal moment to strengthen chemotherapy services, ensuring they remain safe, effective, and sustainable as cancer care expands.
During my visit, I will work closely with KCMC’s oncology nursing team to conduct a structured needs assessment, observe chemotherapy workflows, and deliver targeted training. A primary focus will be safe chemotherapy administration, extravasation management, recognition and management of toxicities, and patient education. Another key objective will be developing and refining standardized chemotherapy protocols and supportive care guidelines tailored to KCMC’s resource environment. These protocols will help establish consistent practices, reduce variability, and promote patient safety.
This engagement is designed to build nursing capacity, strengthen systems of care, and ensure chemotherapy services remain a strong foundation of cancer treatment at KCMC. By pairing education with protocol development, the project will have immediate clinical impact while laying the groundwork for sustainable workforce development in oncology nursing.
KCMC is Tanzania’s third-largest hospital and the only tertiary referral center in northern Tanzania, serving an estimated 11 million people. Patients come from both rural and urban communities, including the Chagga and Masai, with many relying on farming, livestock, or tourism for income. Limited financial resources, geographic distance, and cultural reliance on traditional healing often delay access to medical care, leading to late-stage cancer presentations.
The most common cancers in this region include cervical, breast, prostate, and Kaposi sarcoma. Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death among Tanzanian women, despite being highly preventable and treatable when detected early. Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of treatment for these cancers, yet its safe delivery is challenged by limited oncology-specific training, lack of standardized protocols, and severe workforce shortages.
Nurses at KCMC are the frontline providers responsible for chemotherapy preparation, administration, and monitoring, yet many have not received formal education in oncology care. Without standardized protocols or structured training, the risks of extravasation, adverse effects, and inconsistent practice remain high. Strengthening nursing education and building practical systems of care are essential steps toward improving outcomes and ensuring safe chemotherapy delivery for this population.
This project is designed to directly strengthen chemotherapy delivery at KCMC through targeted oncology nursing education and protocol development. Training will focus on extravasation management, chemotherapy toxicities, safe handling of cytotoxic drugs, and patient education. Alongside this, we will collaborate with the KCMC team to design standardized chemotherapy protocols and supportive care guidelines that align with available resources and best practices. The expected outcomes include greater nursing confidence and competence in chemotherapy administration and patient monitoring, improved patient safety through early recognition and management of chemotherapy-related toxicities and extravasation, and the development and adoption of standardized chemotherapy protocols to promote consistency and reliability in care delivery. The project will also strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and care coordination within the oncology team while supporting sustainable workforce development as trained nurses share knowledge and integrate protocols into ongoing practice. This initiative will improve immediate chemotherapy safety and delivery while also creating durable systems of care. By investing in oncology nursing education and standardization at this critical moment, the project will ensure that KCMC’s expansion in cancer care is matched with the capacity to provide safe, effective, and sustainable chemotherapy services for patients across northern Tanzania.
This trip was unable to happen in Jan 2026 due to political unrest. These are photos from 2025. We are hoping to get back to Tanzania in Fall 2026.
