Tobacco-linked cancer cases on the rise
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Tobacco consumption is on the rise in the State and the recent rise in cancer cases is just an indication to this fact.
In a sample study, done in various hospitals in the city, it is found that patients were suffering from various types cancers of the mouth (gum, tongue, cheek and nasopharynx – nasal part of the pharynx – is the uppermost part of the pharynx), larynx (voice box), oesophagus (also esophagus, called the gullet is the part of the gastrointestinal system between the mouth and the stomach) and lungs. These patients are mainly beedi smokers, tobacco chewers, cigarette smokers and passive smokers.
Tobacco is a silent killer and the single largest cause of preventable diseases including cancer, heart attacks, chronic obtrusive lung disease and asthma. According to WHO, tobacco killed 100 million people in the 20th century and will kill a billion people, ten times more, in the 21st century. Deaths due to tobacco are expected to rise from 1.4% in 1990 to 13.3% in 2020.
“What we need is a Vision 2020 programme even in the tobacco scenario,” said a doctor. According to a study made by the Indian Council for Medical Research, one in every five deaths (male) and one in every 20 deaths are caused by tobacco smoking.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, parents from the town have demanded a ban on sell and consumption of tobacco and tobacco-based products within half a km radius of all educational institutions in the town in order to check the menace of pre-teen and post-teen smoking habits.
Referring to the recent ruling in Assam, where the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district administration recently banned sell of such items, these parents have also urged the district administration here to impose similar prohibitory order to check this menace.
“The ban on public smoking by the Union government has no effect on the elders, who should otherwise show the way to the teens,” said a disgruntled parent.
Many senior residents of the city have also opined that children spend a good amount of time in their schools – where it is not possible to keep a track all the time, not even by their teachers. “It has been seen that due to the availability of these shops near schools, students are tempted to buy many things which they should not,” said a resident adding such a move would prevent sale of these banned products near educational institutions. This demand of the parents and residents are also supported by some NGOs in the state, who said that sale of tobacco items should be prohibited near schools and colleges.