When more than 2,000 adults in urban slums of old city were screened for Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs), 1 in 3 adults were found be suffering from the OPMD due to very high exposure to non-smoke tobacco. The randomised population-based screening programme was taken up by city-based NGO Helping Hand Foundation. OPMDs are a few conditions that are observed before invasive cancer affects a person.
The screening was conducted in slums localities in old city including Jahanuma, N.S. Kunta, A.R. Nagar, Teegal Kunta, Tadban, Vatapally. Around 30 dental screening camps were held in the last three months starting May this year.
“Out of 2,000 adults screened for oral health, 70 per cent were men and in this almost one-third have been found to be OPMD. Majority are below the age of 35 years. While 60% of the OPMDS have oral submucosal fibrosis, 5% have Leucoplakia both of which predispose the person to malignant form of oral cancer in a span of 2 to 5 years if not treated,” as per a press release.
Mujtaba Hasan Askari from Helping Hand Foundation said that while they were able to mobilise people for screening, the challenge they faced was in making people attend counselling. “Only 50% of the cases are turning up for counselling and treatment due to stigma and denial of the fact that there is a problem,” he said.