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Bhubaneswar: Shocking as it may sound, Cancer - one of the world's biggest killer diseases - is becoming quite prevalent in Odisha and as per the report of the Union Health Ministry, the disease is claiming at least 3 lives every hour in the state.
A report tabled in Lok Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel revealed that as many as 136 persons are diagnosed with the fatal disease on a daily basis in Odisha out of which 69 persons succumb to the disease every day at a rate of 3 persons every hour.
Experts opine that mainly two types of Cancers are very common in Odisha -Oral and Cervical.
“As compared to the national average, use of chewing and smoke-free tobacco in Odisha is double which is leading to high incidences of Oral cancer. Similarly lack of awareness among women especially in rural areas is leading to a number of deaths due to cervical cancer,” said Oncologist Ghanashyam Biswas.
Statistics reveal that, in 2014, as many as 45,736 people in the state were diagnosed with the fatal disease out of which 23, 043 deaths were registered. The following year, the tally rose to 47, 666 patients out 0f which 24,019 people died. The number continues to creep up with 49,674 cases and 25, 035 deaths recorded in 2016.
To stop such an epidemic, the state government has decided to set up ultra-modern cancer treatment centres in Kalahandi, Sambalpur and Berhampur and also establish State Cancer Centre in Cuttack. A proposal in this regard has been sent to the Centre, government sources informed.
Speaking in this regard, Oncologist from Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Research Centre, Surendra Nath Senapati said, Odisha has all kinds of infrastructure for fighting the disease.
“We have adequate facilities for surgery, radio therapy and even the latest technology-four linear accelerators- for treating patients suffering from cancer. Besides, all kinds of latest chemotherapy is also available in the state,” he said.
According to Central government's report, a total of 14, 51,417 people in India were affected by the disease in 2016 and around half of that population lost the battle to Cancer.
