Widespread availability of tobacco a major issue, says Nagaland surgeon

KOHIMA — Dr. Keduovinuo Keditsu, a Cancer Surgeon at Putuonuo Hospital in Kohima, on Thursday highlighted the issue of tobacco consumption in Nagaland and urged students to champion the cause of raising awareness about its detrimental effects.

She was speaking during the 2023 tobacco-free campaign initiated by the Rev. Moa Longchari Cancer Foundation (RMLCF) for school students at the Kevilhouü Rio Auditorium, G Rio School, Kohima.

Referring to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey India 2019 fact sheet, Dr. Keditsu noted that the current tobacco usage among students aged 13 to 15 in Nagaland stands at a concerning 42.6%. She said that the widespread availability of tobacco in the state is a major contributing factor to this issue.

‘Tobacco products can be readily found in various shops, outside households, and in close proximity to schools. Despite regulations prohibiting the sale of tobacco within a 100-yard radius of educational institutions, the prevalence of tobacco products remains high, leading to a perception that such availability is the norm,’ she said.

Pointing out that chewing tobacco and smokeless tobacco is much more harmful than smoking, the doctor said pan masala poses a significant risk due to inclusion of lime or limestone (chuna).

She added that tobacco comprises over 7,000 chemicals, including 250 toxic substances and nicotine, along with the potential to cause various types of fatal cancers.

Citing data, she said that 22,000 individuals succumb to tobacco-related illnesses each day globally, equating to loss of one life lost every second. In India, the toll is 3,700 lives per day, she said while highlighting the damages cause by tobacco to every single part of the body and attributing the high incidence of heart attacks and strokes to the damage inflicted by tobacco tar on blood vessels.

Tobacco and infertility

Dr. Keditsu maintained that infertility has become increasingly prevalent in Nagaland due to the widespread use of tobacco among both women and men. She said many couples are struggling to conceive as men experience sperm abnormalities, while the quality of women’s eggs is adversely affected by tobacco use.

As a result, couples often resort to expensive artificial insemination procedures, costing them a significant amount of money, she said, adding that tobacco use has also been linked to the birth of abnormal babies.

By discontinuing tobacco use, there is hope for improved fertility outcomes, she said.

The doctor for highlighted the grave consequences of using tobacco during pregnancy and enduring a ‘2H exposure’, saying that it can result in sudden fetal death, miscarriage, stillbirths, ectopic pregnancies, and birth defects, including cleft lip and cleft palate.

Also, tobacco consumption can lead to weakened bones, skin damage like psoriasis, vision and hearing loss, as well as the development of lung, mouth, and throat cancers, she said, adding that individuals diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer usually have a life expectancy of not more than two years post-surgery.

Citing these alarming findings, she urged students to take a proactive stance against tobacco and raise awareness about its effects in schools, homes, and society.

Meanwhile, Khrienuo Moa, the president of RMLCF, disclosed that the foundation is currently working with four hospitals in Nagaland to support cancer patients and that they encountered a significant number of young individuals grappling with cancer due to their tobacco habits.

Witnessing these young people endure pain because of their choices was deeply saddening, she said, adding that this stark reality motivated the foundation to launch a tobacco awareness campaign to bring about a positive change in the society.

Established on October 26, 2019, in memory of her late husband, Rev. Moa Longchari, the RMLCF is dedicated to assisting people battling cancer by providing a support system through prayers and counseling, Khrienuo said, underscoring the tremendous amount of emotional and financial trauma faced by cancer patients, besides physical illness.

Speaking about the conception of the foundation, she said her husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and they had a rough journey. They also came across many people who had been going through physical, financial, and spiritual pain, and often, many patients returning home without receiving treatment because of financial constraints.

It was during this challenging journey that Rev. Moa Longchari envisioned the creation of a cancer foundation.

‘Today he (Rev. Moa Longchari) is no longer with us but his vision is living with us,’ said Khrienuo.

Students from 30 schools engaged in group discussions and interactive sessions to bring out strategies to carry the campaign forward.

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