KARACHI: Demand for strict ban on use, sale of betel nut: ‘Save children from cancer’
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, April 18: The government’s indifference in the face of increasing oral cancer cases, especially among younger people, makes it all the more important for the managements of educational institutions to take their own line of action, make children aware of the health hazards of pan, chhalia (betel nut) and gutka and prohibit their sale in the institutions.
This was stated by Pakistan Medical Association’s General Secretary, Dr Qaiser Sajjad, while addressing a large gathering of schoolchildren at the PMA House. The event was first in the series of programmes to make children aware of the health risks involved in chhalia consumption.
Criticising the government for failing to provide primary healthcare, he said that health and education were not on the priority list of the government which was evident from the fact that the government had failed to provide clean water to its citizens. As a result, three million people contracted waterborne diseases every year and 250,000 children died because of the same reason.
“This situation puts greater responsibility on citizens. They should educate themselves about health issues and help create a better environment for future generations,” he remarked.
Talking about the widespread use of chhalia and gutka and its health risks, he said oral cancer was the second largest form of cancer after lung cancer in Pakistan. The number of its victims was rapidly increasing, especially among young people.
“In view of persistent government apathy over the issue, educational institutions should come forward and warn students about its health risks as more and more teenagers were falling victim to sub-mucous fibrosis (SMF), a pre-cancerous condition,” he said.
Making it very clear to the impressionable minds that there was no difference between ‘clean’ and ‘bad’ chhalia as far as the health risks they posed, he said it had been scientifically proven that chhalia was an independent risk factor for cancer. He showed the audiance various images of people suffering from SMF.
Talking to journalists, he said the PMA had asked the government to ban the sale, manufacturing and advertising of chhalia and gutka.
The association, he said, would support parents who had any child suffering from SMF and want to fight against the school administration for allowing the sale of chhalia in their institution.
PMA President Dr Naseer Baloch and member Dr Aziz Khan Tank also spoke.
