Thursday, May 31, 2012

Tobacco use in Mizoram leading high incidence of cancer: CM

Aizawl, Jun 1 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today lamented the fact that use of tobacco in different forms was highly prevalent in the Mizo society which has resulted in high incidence of cancer in the state. Addressing a function on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day and launching the Blue Ribbon campaign in the state, Lal Thanhawla said that efforts were being made to make Mizoram a smoke-free state. Lal Riliani, wife of Lal Thanhawla and president of the Indian Society on Tobacco and Health (Mizoram chapter) also said that smoking was highly rampant in Mizoram at 95 per cent in residential homes while 98 per cent of the families allowed people to smoke inside their houses. She also emphasized the need for creating mass awareness on passive smoking or second hand smoke which can cause cancer to even non-smokers.