Establishing cancer hospitals is a top priority for the Mizoram government.

Aizawl: Construction of a Rs 500 crore super specialty cancer and research center under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expected to start soon in Mizoram’s capital Aizawl, an official said on Friday.

Familiar with the “Cancer State” tag, the official said Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Thursday reviewed and discussed issues related to the project with state officials and JICA representatives.

Minister of State for Health Dr. R. Lalthangliana and Vice Chairman of Health and Family Welfare Board Dr. Z. R. Zoramthanga also attended the meeting.

The Chief Minister said that Mizoram now has the dubious honor of having the highest number of cancer cases in the country and the state government was making the establishment of specialized cancer hospitals its top priority.

He added that in addition to cancer awareness and other initiatives, attention should be paid to the immediate construction of special cancer hospitals to facilitate treatment and good care at the local level and to avoid treatment outside the state.

The Chief Minister also urged the state officials and representatives of JICA to expedite the construction of the proposed Super Specialty Cancer and Research Center on the outskirts of the state capital.

Lalthangliana also told the meeting that efforts would be made to start construction as soon as possible.

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During the meeting, JICA representatives said that in addition to construction, emphasis should also be placed on human resource development and cancer screening for the general public under “soft components” such as training, awareness programs and projects.

Branded as “Cancer State”, Mizoram in all sites male and female, tongue cancer (male), lung cancer (male and female), stomach cancer (male and female), hypopharyngeal cancer (male), cancer Top spot. And prostate cancer (male), according to PBCR, published in 2016.

It is also the leading cause of cervical cancer in women in the country.

It is estimated that an average of at least 725 people die of cancer each year, and 3 people in Mizoram suffer from this deadly disease every day.

According to a report of the National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) -2012-2016, released in 2020, Mizoram recorded 207 and 172.3 cases of cancer from all sites per one lakh population among men and women, respectively.

The report said that the total number of cancer patients in the state during 2012-2016 was 8,059 including 3,736 women, while 4,080 cases of cancer were registered in Azul district alone during the same period.

In Mizoram, 1 in 5 people (both men and women) are at risk of developing cancer in the age group of 0-74 years.