India being a developing Nation and the country now seriously employing a policy of ‘ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT’ OR ‘SELF RELIANT INDIA’, the nation can well achieve this dream in less than a decade with its biggest strength being that we are a young nation with maximum population being in their middle ages. Having said this, it also remains a fact that most of our Rural sector consists of a population who among many challenges in their life like good housing, secure jobs, education is also facing a big challenge of Tobacco habit like Gutka, Beddi smoking, etc and serious health concerns due to this habit like Oral Cancer, throat cancer
Tobacco habit is deep rooted among the low social economic status population of India. They keep the quid in the mouth for hours, as a result suffer from white/ red precancerous patches in the mouth that causes severe burning on eating food. Over the months, the appetite is also lost and they begin to loose weight and suffer from malnutrition.
All this when they are in their most productive years of life that is 18 – 45 years, as a result working efficiency drops at an individual level, organisational level and National level as a result.
Also let’s bear in mind that Tobacco habit along with alcohol intake has a 10 fold rise in cancer risk at the early age of 50-55 years.
There is a need to address this serious health issue that is crippling our working population.
Three health care activities that needs to be employed:
- General checkup to evaluate the health status & effects of tobacco, smoking &/or alcohol on their general health.
- Screening of the mouth for white/ red patches, early signs of Oral cancer.
- Tobacco cessation counseling & regular follow ups.
With Digital Technology, the whole process can also be implemented remotely and through video conferencing after initial sensitization of the people, this will cut the cost immensely.
Addressing this issue timely, will save the life of many men who are perhaps the soul bread earner in their families
