The campaign, inaugurated by the Speaker Subas Nembang amidst a function in Kathmandu, aims at raising awareness about the hazards of smoking and new legal provisions regarding sales and distribution of tobacco by distributing colorful pamphlets containing anti-tobacco messages and pictures. [break]
According to Shanta Lal Mulmi, Executive Director of Resource Centre for Primary Health Care that is coordinating the campaign, altogether 20,000 pamphlets were distributed in the core area of the Kathmandu valley on Thursday alone.
“We will distribute these pamphlets in all 75 districts in the next 10 days and try to reach out to every household,” said Mulmi. “The idea is to handover the pamphlets to people at their door-steps.”
National Pressure Group against Tobacco and Nepal Alcohol Policy Alliance, which played the pivotal role in exerting pressure on the government to pass the anti-tobacco bill, are also active in this campaign.
“The passing of the bill alone does not serve our purpose of controlling the rampant use of tobacco,” Mulmi, whose organization is a member of both anti-tobacco alliances, said. “The act will have its significance only if the government commits itself for its effective implementation. Hence, the need for this awareness campaign.”
President Dr Rambaran Yadav approved the act on April 29 after it was passed by the parliament. The act comes into effect in 90 days after the president´s approval. The anti-tobacco act will come into effect on this August 7.
As per the act, government authorities can slap a fine of Rs 100 to Rs 100,000 on any one who smokes or sells tobacco products in public place. Similarly, once the act comes into effect, no one can sell tobacco products to people below the age of 18 or to pregnant women.
The act also prevents attractive display of tobacco products. Three months after the act is implemented, all tobacco packets must dedicate 75 per cent of the space to emphasize the hazards of tobacco.
In Nepal, men start smoking at an average age of 19 while women do so at 23.
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