Health Minister Nazim Highlights Complex Causes of Cancer in Maldives

Health Minister Abdullah Nazim Ibrahim addressed the rising concerns about cancer in the Maldives during a press conference on Monday, emphasizing that while cancer is a prevalent disease in the country, its exact cause remains unidentified. Nazim explained that cancer is influenced by multiple factors, including lifestyle and hereditary elements, making it difficult to pinpoint a single cause. His remarks came in response to growing public anxiety, particularly from the island of Baa Goidhoo, where fears over pesticide use in farmlands have been raised. The minister highlighted the government’s commitment to early cancer screening and expanding treatment services across the nation. He also pointed to tobacco use as a well-established contributor to cancer and expressed optimism about the government’s efforts to curb tobacco consumption. Cancer has claimed numerous lives in recent years, prompting increased attention from both the public and health authorities.