Mizoram Faces Alarming Cancer Rates: Government Initiatives Underway
Cancer Crisis in Mizoram
Aizawl, March 1: Mizoram has been identified as having the highest rates of cancer incidence and mortality in India, with Aizawl district reporting an age-adjusted incidence rate of 269.4 per one lakh men.
A senior official from the Health and Family Welfare Department revealed on Sunday that stomach and lung cancers are the most prevalent types in the state, primarily due to high consumption of tobacco and betel nut, along with dietary habits and genetic predispositions.
The Mizoram government recently entered into a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank on January 23 for a project named “Supporting Public Health Care System Strengthening to Achieve Universal Healthcare for Mizoram,” commonly referred to as the Mizoram Universal Healthcare Scheme (MUHCS).
Additionally, the Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project, funded by the World Bank, is nearing completion and is expected to conclude by March 2026.
This initiative includes the establishment of the Mizoram State Super Speciality Cancer and Research Centre in Aizawl, under the Health and Family Welfare Department.
During a recent event in Aizawl, State Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii expressed her alarm over the high cancer incidence rates in Mizoram compared to its population size.
She mentioned that the Director of Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, where many Mizo cancer patients receive treatment, has noted the unusually high cancer cases among the Mizo population.
Experts attribute the state's cancer burden to significant tobacco use, unhealthy dietary practices—including high consumption of smoked meats, pork fat, and oils—and various lifestyle factors.
Among Indian women, breast cancer is the most prevalent, followed by cervical cancer. The Minister emphasized that 99.7% of cervical cancer cases are linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and highlighted the importance of the free vaccination program, urging all eligible girls aged 14 to get vaccinated.
She also commended the commitment and efforts of healthcare workers at all levels, from the Directorate to Sub-Centres.
Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena, who spoke at the same event, noted that one in five cervical cancer patients worldwide is from India.
He described the free vaccination initiative for adolescent girls, who will become future mothers, as a crucial and timely intervention.
The chief secretary pointed out that Mizoram has one of the highest cervical cancer rates in the country, while screening rates among women remain low.
In a related development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign for 14-year-old girls aimed at preventing cervical cancer. The program was initiated virtually across all states and union territories from Ajmer.