What Tanzania’s first private haematology clinic means

Situated along Kilombero Street in Dar es Salaam, the clinic will open its doors to the public on October 2, following its launch today, September 29, 2023.

This comes at a time of huge demand for such services, where 47 percent of the global population has little to no access to such diagnostics.

A haematologist from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and co-founder of the clinic, Dr William Mawalla, said the clinic is committed to providing high-quality, affordable haematology diagnostic services to all patients, regardless of their background or ability to pay.

He added that it was their hope that the clinic would help to improve the understanding of blood disorders in sub-Saharan Africa and lead to the development of better prevention and treatment strategies.

His counterpart from the University of Oxford, Professor Anna Schuh, emphasised the critical role of diagnostics.

“A precise diagnosis is essential in delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time. In sub-Saharan Africa, many diseases that can be easily cured or well controlled with affordable therapies are currently not being diagnosed,” she said.

Further details show that if left undiagnosed, 95 percent of children with sickle cell disease die within the first 5 years of life.

“For cancer, over 90 percent of patients can be cured in-country with treatment if diagnosed early,” added Prof Schuh.

In contrast, late-stage cancer is often incurable.

The UK firm is stepping in to bridge the gap by establishing a testing facility that focuses on underserved patient populations in Tanzania, with plans to expand its services throughout Africa.

A paediatric haematologist and oncologist at MUHAS, Dr Lulu Chirande, underscores the urgency of early diagnosis, especially for children.

She says; “We cannot overemphasise the importance of an accurate and timely diagnosis in the treatment of children with cancer and blood disorders. Most of our patients reach us late with advanced disease; we cannot afford further delays in diagnosis. The cost of treating a wrong diagnosis is high for the patient and for the healthcare system.”

The clinic would offer a comprehensive range of diagnostic tests, including complete blood counts (CBCs), blood film reviews, reticulocyte counts, haemoglobin electrophoresis, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics for sickle cell disease, other haemoglobinopathies, and blood cancers.

Moreover, the facility would provide expert interpretation of test results and consultation services to patients.

“I believe in public-private partnerships. When services are available within the country, they become accessible and affordable to more Tanzanians, and results can be available in a shorter time. I am excited and looking forward to the operations of SerenOx Africa,” said Dr Chirande.

SerenOx Africa’s goal is to offer accessible, fair, and sustainable diagnosis and treatment for individuals with blood disorders and early cancer detection.

The founders plan to achieve this by offering affordable pricing for self-paying patients, providing services to public sector patients and healthcare facilities at cost, and actively participating in public-private partnerships with Tanzanian government health organisations.

SerenOx Africa’s sustainability plan extends to its wholly independent sister company, SerenOx UK.

This UK-based social enterprise, a spin-out from the University of Oxford, supports the establishment of diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through revenue generated from intellectual property.

The launch of SerenOx Africa marks a significant advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders in sub-Saharan Africa.