IMPHAL, Feb 9 – Though the State is yet to enforce the Government’s ban order, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital campus is the only place in Manipur where smoking is completely banned. The authority of the premier medical institute in NE India has so far fined 37 smokers. Ban on smoking in public places came into force since October 2 last year as part of the Centre’s anti-tobacco campaign in order to reduce cancer cases in the country.
“Soon after the Government announcement, we launched the anti-tobacco campaign here, so far we’ve fined 37 smokers, said Prof Y Mohen Singh, Medical Superintendent of RIMS Hospital.
Each smokers was fined Rs 200 and the amount collected from them were used in procuring medicines for the hospitalized cancer patients at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). After the campaign came into force, RIMS authority hardly finds a smoker in the campus these days. Prof Mohen, under whose initiative the campaign is on, while talking to The Assam Tribune here said, “Unlike in the past, nowadays we don’t find a smoker in a week.”
He also informed that RIMS is planning to introduce four medicine stores to distribute cancer drugs at concessional rates. Some of them were even shortlisted for it, he added.
Prof Mohen, in-charge of National Cancer Registry Program in the region, said around 400-450 persons die of cancer annually in Manipur and as the State’s every 1 lakh population has 60 cancer cases, this fatal disease has emerged more alarming than that of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The sudden increase in the number of cancer is because of prolonged use of tobacco, lack of awareness and limited access to early detection and treatment services. Prof Th Tomcha, head of Radiotheraphy department of the hospital, sharing his observation on prevention and early detection of cancer, said 30 to 50 per cent of cancers could be prevented once tobacco (smoking) is avoided.
Those who smoke 20 cigarettes in a day is 20 times more vulnerable to cancer than a non-smoker, Prof Tomcha said, adding, smokers should also feel guilty as smoking also affects the surrounding.
A total of 1,234 cancer cases including 634 females were registered in Manipur during 2007-08. The rate of registration is on the rise as 39 per cent of State’s population above 15 years of age are smokers, as per official records. Because of use of tobacco, 96 per cent of State’s cancer cases among males are lung cancer while breast cancer cases outnumber womb and lung cancer cases among the females. But 30 to 40 percent of them can be cured if they change their lifestyle Tomcha informed.
Source: ASSAM TRIBUNE
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
“Soon after the Government announcement, we launched the anti-tobacco campaign here, so far we’ve fined 37 smokers, said Prof Y Mohen Singh, Medical Superintendent of RIMS Hospital.
Each smokers was fined Rs 200 and the amount collected from them were used in procuring medicines for the hospitalized cancer patients at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC). After the campaign came into force, RIMS authority hardly finds a smoker in the campus these days. Prof Mohen, under whose initiative the campaign is on, while talking to The Assam Tribune here said, “Unlike in the past, nowadays we don’t find a smoker in a week.”
He also informed that RIMS is planning to introduce four medicine stores to distribute cancer drugs at concessional rates. Some of them were even shortlisted for it, he added.
Prof Mohen, in-charge of National Cancer Registry Program in the region, said around 400-450 persons die of cancer annually in Manipur and as the State’s every 1 lakh population has 60 cancer cases, this fatal disease has emerged more alarming than that of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The sudden increase in the number of cancer is because of prolonged use of tobacco, lack of awareness and limited access to early detection and treatment services. Prof Th Tomcha, head of Radiotheraphy department of the hospital, sharing his observation on prevention and early detection of cancer, said 30 to 50 per cent of cancers could be prevented once tobacco (smoking) is avoided.
Those who smoke 20 cigarettes in a day is 20 times more vulnerable to cancer than a non-smoker, Prof Tomcha said, adding, smokers should also feel guilty as smoking also affects the surrounding.
A total of 1,234 cancer cases including 634 females were registered in Manipur during 2007-08. The rate of registration is on the rise as 39 per cent of State’s population above 15 years of age are smokers, as per official records. Because of use of tobacco, 96 per cent of State’s cancer cases among males are lung cancer while breast cancer cases outnumber womb and lung cancer cases among the females. But 30 to 40 percent of them can be cured if they change their lifestyle Tomcha informed.
Source: ASSAM TRIBUNE
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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