DESPITE a ban, gutka and mainpuri are still being sold by vendors in Qasimabad, Hyderabad, either openly or secretly. Several people, especially the youth, buy gutka from cigarette stalls. These commodities are being sold openly in the vicinity of Pakora Chowk, Qasim Chowk, Sheedi Goth, Nasim Nagar Chowk, Gidu Chowk and several other areas of the city.

The Nuclear Institute of Medicine and Radiotherapy, Jamshoro, has registered 15,900 cases of cancer from January 2008 to December 2014. The medical report states that 28 per cent of these cases are related to oral cancer. Likewise, the Atomic Energy Medical Centre, Karachi, has registered 1,025 cases of oral cancer between 2014 and 2017. According to the AEMC report, 90pc of these cases are caused by mainpuri, gutka, chewing tobacco and betel nuts.

Oral cancer in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, is the second most common cancer. Betel nuts, slaked lime, paraffin and catechu are used in making of gutka. Along with tobacco, these ingredients make gutka highly hazardous for health. This mixture is a combination of 4,000 chemicals of which 40 are carcinogenic compounds. Oncologists say gutka is more harmful than other forms of tobacco because it goes directly to the oral cavity. It also contains carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and hydrocarbon.

According to oncologists, 40pc of oral cavity cancer can be prevented by eliminating these products from our community. The ban on such items can only be helpful if the authorities act against the sellers.

Naimatullah Gadhi

Khairpur

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2018