Landmark bone marrow transplant unit opened in Tanzania

The capital city of Dodoma, Tanzania, now has a bone marrow transplant center.

The hospital will concentrate on treating sickle cell patients, according to the director of Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, marking a significant development for the nation’s healthcare system.

Only a few African nations, including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia, provide bone marrow transplants.

Sickle cell is an inherited disorder and most cases are found in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is caused by a faulty gene that affects how red blood cells develop and the condition can cause severe pain and organ failure.

A bone marrow transplant replaces bone marrow with healthy cells. It is also used to treat patients with leukaemia or blood cancer.

The East African nation ranks fourth in the world for the highest rates of sickle cell, with around 11,000 children born with the disease each year, according to Tanzania’s health ministry.