Mizoram on Tuesday joined the world in observing the World Cancer Day to spread awareness against the deadly disease.
The main observance held in Aizawl was graced by state health minister Dr R Lalthangliana.
Speaking on the occasion, Lalthangliana said Mizoram continue to occupy first place in cancer incident in the country despite massive efforts made by the government.
Also read: Mizoram to have cancer specialty hospital soon
He said at least 2,176 people, including 830 females have died due to the deadly disease during three years from 2012 to 2014 quoting latest Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCR) released in 2016.
More than as 4,600 cancer cases were detected during the same period, which manifested that the growth is extremely ‘alarming’, he said.
In order to cater to the needs of the people, Lalthangliana said, the government would establish cancer specialty hospital in Aizawl.
The proposed project, which would cost Rs 500 crore, is expected to be the best cancer hospitals in the country, he said.
He added Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has agreed to undertake the project.
Branded as ‘cancer state’, Mizoram holds the top position in cancer across all sites for male and female, tongue cancer (male), lung cancer (male & female), stomach cancer (male & female), hypopharynx cancer (male), and gland cancer (male), according to PBCR published in 2016.
It also topped the list in Cervix cancer in women in the country.
It has been estimated that on average at least 725 people died every year due to cancer and three people are diagnosed with the deadly disease every day in Mizoram.
Organized by Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the World Cancer Day is observed across the world every year.
This year, ‘I am and I will’ is the theme and it acknowledges that everyone has the capacity to act in the face of cancer.
The World Cancer Report said that according to the estimated cancer burden in India in 2018, there are about 1.16 million new cancer cases, 784,800 cancer deaths, and 2.26 million 5-year prevalent cases in India’s population of 1.35 billion.