The Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority and PNG Cancer Foundation recently partnered for a public mouth screening at Alotau’s main market.
This program is part of the Foundation’s community drive on mouth cancer awareness. One hundred and twenty-six people were screened – 47 females and 79 males.
Program manager Amy Carland said the preliminary findings of the screening showed 23 people were found with mouth lesions and more than 50% of them were betel-nut chewers and smokers.
Ms. Carland confirmed that the youngest person with a premalignant lesion at the screening was 24 years old.
The Oral Health Service at the National Department of Health indicated that in PNG, the main risk factor for mouth cancer has been narrowed down to betel-nut, particularly when chewed with lime and mustard.
CEO of the Cancer Foundation, Dadi Toka Jr., said education and awareness are a top priority for their current mouth cancer campaign.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bnu4TphNTrc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
previous post