Chewing a locally made "Gutka" has become a dangerous habit in coastal villages of southern Pakistan and is increasing mouth infections in the large communities which includes children and women too. About 80% people of a coastal village, "Ibrahim Haidrey" are reported, addicted of "Gutka", due to which, according to local doctors, many mouth diseases like Submucus, Fibrosis, Squamous cell carcinoma, Mouth and tongue ulcer, Peptic ulcer are spreading widely in Sindh, the southern province of Pakistan.
" I am very habitual of it now, if I don’t take it, I can’t work, can’t see movies, can’t move in order. I feel vomiting without Gutka now." Said Ghullam Hussain, 24, an addict of Ibrahim Haidrey village, " I started to chew it when I was six years old. Today it is the best gift we can offer to our friends."
Many students claim that they take Gutka, when they prepare for their examination. Many factory and mill workers don’t go to their work without it.
" 90% of fishermen, who fish in deep sea, take this intoxication first and then start their work. They keep their stock when going for long distance fishing and come back if the stock is finished." Said Mohammad Ali Shah, president of Pakistan Fishermen Folk Federation, " Its use is common in fishing communities along the Karachi coastal belt. It is generally seen that men and women in coastal villages sleep, putting Gutka along with their pillow. They also take it early morning before brushing."
In result of chewing Gutka, many cases are found in different villages. Zainab,35, a house wife has entered in a pre cancer condition of a mouth disease and she can’t move her mouth now. She can’t eat the meal properly. Her cousin Siddique, has recently died who also couldn’t move his mouth due to excess use of Gutka.
Not only uneducated but many educated people who are working with different public and private sectors are habitual of this chewing trend.
" I take three doses daily. It has slowed down my mouth movement but I can’t leave it now." Said Ruqqaya, a women social worker in this part of the world.
Dr. Shafi Mohammad Patoli, the president of Mehran social welfare association is very much concerned on this issue and is doing a comprehensive research about Gutka addiction in Pakistani coastal villages. He said, "After a sample survey of 300 addicts, 10% people were found suffering from different mouth cancer diseases."
He further told that due to addition of opium or poppy in Gutka mixture, the people like to buy it and use it frequently.
" The cabin owners are now the manufacturers of this drug and they deliberately add more amount of opium in it. Among 80% of coastal population, 45% of their income is used in Gutka chewing." He informed.
Mehran welfare association has organised many lectures and workshops over this issue in different coastal villages. According to Mr. Shah, the president of fisher folk federation, the cabin business is increasing day by day in coastal villages of Pakistan which ultimately will turn it into large number of patients.
" Some mothers take Gutka before they feed their babies as the baby should sleep in no time." He maintained.
Gutka, a form of tobacco, consists of betel nuts, lime water, opium, different kinds of tobacco, flavour of sweetener, and peppermint, etc. Interesting thing is that people use it as a treatment to teeth ache.
Gutka use was started in Pakistan after 1971, when Pakistan’s supply of betel nuts and leaf to Bangladesh and India was suspended after the war, and people started using it in access here. Initially, it was called, "vito" but later it was known as either "Gutka" or "Choora".
