Pakistan is included in list of developing countries where cancer is becoming a serious issue among children
ABSOR, TURBAT: It is painful to learn that Pakistan is included in the list of developing countries where cancer is becoming a serious issue among children. Its incidence is increasing by the day. However, cancer in children is fully curable in children and also in adults.
Due to poor cancer awareness, inability to afford treatment and a dearth of trained physicians, many children are losing their lives due to cancer and other dangerous but curable diseases. Nearly 70 million children under the age of 15 are reported to be suffering from cancer.
Humanitarian organisations claim that 6,000 children are being diagnosed every year. Unfortunately, a large majority of these patients never get either proper diagnosis or treatment.
Forty-seven per cent of diagnosis has been reported to occur in Karachi, with the remaining cases occur across the country.
The consumption of chhalia gutka (betel nut mixed with tobacco), paan, cigarettes and the use of sheesha are some of the major causes of the spread of cancer.
The government should ban the consumption of these harmful products and increase the number of hospitals and trained medics and nurses who can help cancer patients.
Muhammad Bakhtiyar
Published in The Express Tribune, September 16th, 2018.
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