WHO Paints Scary Picture on Tobacco Use in Nepal

Source from:  The Himalayan  12/20/2012

Speakers at a programme organised by Nepal Cancer Relief Society urged effective implementation of Tobacco Control and Regulation Act as the government has only been able to implement the act partially.

Dr Prakash Neupane, senior consultant surgeon and surgical oncologist said the country should show serious concern about implementing the anti-tobacco act and should act to meet the vision of making Nepal a tobacco-free country.

"In a cigarette stick, there are 60 carcinogenics containing 4,000 chemicals in terms of gas and other particles. Low tar and nicotine cigarettes are no safer than high tar nicotine cigarettes," said Neupane.

Consumer rights activist Jyoti Baniya said lack of will is hindering implementation of the act. He further said tobacco industries are also hindering implementation of the anti-tobacco act. Addressing the programme, he added that tobacco companies especially target teenagers and manipulate the media to discredit scientific research and influence the government to propagate sale and distribution of their products.

He criticised the government's move of ceasing the one paisa tax on cigarette for cancer hospitals and has asked for its continuation, said entrepreneur Karna Shakya. He urged the media to pressure the government to implement the policy.

Health Secretary Dr Praveen Mishra said social, cultural and religious aspects are associated with tobacco use in Nepal. He urged stakeholders to create awareness regarding the diseases caused by tobacco. He further added there should be a strong ground root network for implementing the anti-tobacco act.

According to World Health Organisation, by 2030, tobacco is likely to be the world's leading cause of death and disability, killing more than 10 million people per year and claiming more lives than HIV, TB, maternal mortality, motor vehicle accidents, suicide and homicide combined.

According to hospitals based data, tobacco causes 16 thousand deaths per year in Nepal, 90 per cent of them die due to lung cancer and there are at present approximately 60,000 cancer patients in Nepal.

There are 38 tobacco factories in the country and in average four per cent of the total income is spent on tobacco consumption. There are about 29 per cent female smokers and 49 per cent male smokers in the country. Enditem