Mizoram tops in cancer

Incidents of chewing tobacco and smoking among Mizo women is 10 and five times higher than national figures.

Mizoram, the tiny hilly state of North East India relatively free from pollution, has the highest incidence of cancer, thanks to the fact that the state takes the first place in tobacco consumption in the country.

Jane R Ralte, Principal Investigator, Tobacco Cesssation Clinic, Aizawl Civil Hospital, said that according to the report of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), Mizoram topped tobacco consumption in the country.

Quoting figures released by NFHS, Ralte said 60.7 per cent of the Mizo women are indulging in chewing tobacco while 22.1 per cent smoked, compared to the nation's percentage of 12.4 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.

Men do not lack behind with 60 per cent chewing tobacco and 59.4 per cent smoking, against the national average of 28.3 and 29.4 per cent respectively, she said.

She said smoking kills more people than heroin, cocaine, alcohol, AIDS, fire homicide.

"Out of more than 4,000 substances present in tobacco, more than 43 substances are causing cancer," she warned.