Nagaland officials warn of rising oral cancer burden

Nagaland faces a potential surge in oral and head-and-neck cancer cases over the next 10 to 15 years unless preventive and screening measures are significantly strengthened. Kevilenuo Angami, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, issued this warning during the Annual State Review Meeting of the National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) held at the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima.

Angami noted that oral health remains a neglected aspect of the state's healthcare spectrum. She identified several critical risk factors, including high rates of tobacco consumption—specifically smokeless tobacco and betel-quid chewing—as well as excessive alcohol use, poor oral hygiene, and persistent viral infections such as Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) highlight alarming tobacco prevalence among both adults and children aged 13–15. The two-day training programme was organized by the Dr K & T Keditsu Foundation in collaboration with the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima and the Department of Health & Family Welfare, with support from various institutions including the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.