A group of experts dealing with oral cancer have requested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to set up tobacco-free zones in the city and a specialised institute to combat the disease.
In a recently submitted memorandum to the state government, the Indian Dental Association called for stringent implementation of anti-tobacco laws.
"Oral hygiene is grossly neglected in the state. To curb cases of oral cancer from tobacco use, we have requested the CM to do something about prominently displaying the warnings on the gutkha and bidi packets and hike prices of these products. We also feel dedicated no-tobacco zones in parks and public spaces are needed," Raju Biswas, state secretary, IDA told the media here.
Biswas said Banerjee has shown interest in the campaign and would soon meet the specialists to discuss the recommendations.
He was speaking at the launch of a sustained awareness campaign by IDA on oral cancer and use of tobacco in the state in collaboration with Narayana Superspecialty Hospital (NSH), Howrah.
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According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010, the percentage of the population of Bengal using tobacco in some form is 36.3, and this section is therefore susceptible to its hazards.
Suman Mallick, consultant, radiation oncologist at NSH, said smokeless chewing of tobacco like gutkha, khaini, paan etc. increases vulnerability to the dangers of tobacco.
In addition, periodontic (gum disease) specialist Tirthankar Debnath mentioned that awareness about tobacco's cancer-causing potential is so low that people consuming tobacco products often turn up for check-ups when the damage has been done.
