Dimapur, Nov. 8 (EMN): In a startling revelation, an alarming 8% percentage of young people between the age of 15-19 years have pre-cancerous lesions while majority of young people starts smoking or start using tobacco products during their teens.
The disclosure was made following an oral cancer screening campaign which was carried out in Diphupar area as a case study by the Christian Institute of Health Research and Science (CIHSR) in partnership with Biocon Foundation, Bangalore, in commemoration of World Cancer Day. The oral cancer screening was carried out among 3783 public and 3300 students comprising 16 schools and 9 colleges in Diphupar area.
Making a detailed power point presentation on the case study report at Chief Medical Officer’s office on November 7, Dr. Roshan, CIHSR consultant, stated that younger people are beginning to suffer from cancer. As per report, more than 190 shops still sell tobacco products even though the area had been declared a Tobacco-Free Zone. The report also showed high percentage of alcohol consumption among the students than in general public.
Dr. Roshan informed that the case study was conducted via private interviews and the data securely and confidentially uploaded on a mobile app. Dr. Roshan also lamented that initiation age to tobacco in this region was much lower than in other regions since young people as young as 15 years of age starts using tobacco products.
Dr. Praveen, Birur, Lead Specialist of Biocon Foundation and Professor of Dental School Bangalore, urged to target schools and stop early tobacco habits. He also stated that innovative health technologies should be developed so that even low skilled health workers can operate them.
Dr. Tetseo, Nodal Officer of NTCP, Dimapur, also reiterated the high prevalence of tobacco users in the society especially among young people. He appreciated the efforts of CIHSR and Biocon in bringing such quality data and also stated that the data will strengthen the conviction that tobacco is a real problem in the society.
Dr. K Vikato Kinimi, Chief Medical Officer, also suggested that a good strategy was to be made jointly by the department in collaboration with CIHSR and other stakeholders to combat the menace.
The programme was chaired by Dr. Atsung from CIHSR. He further informed that similar screening campaign would be carried out in Dhansiripar in the near future. Representatives from Nagaland Dental Association, North East Institute of Social Sciences, Dimapur, and staff under CMO Dimapur attended the programme.
