KATHMANDU, April 15: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday launched the “My Year 2074: Healthy Me, Healthy Country” campaign initiated by the Ministry of Health. The campaign is aimed at raising health awareness and making people health-conscious.
While addressing the launching ceremony at Dasharath Stadium, Prime Minister Dahal said that the campaign had been launched to create health awareness among the people and make them health-conscious.
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As the campaign was launched on the first day of the Nepali New Year 2074, Health Minister Gagan Thapa said that the New Year will be the year to work on health programs aimed at ensuring people’s right to health.
“Non-communicable diseases which are caused by people’s lifestyles are increasing at a high rate,” said Minister Thapa at Basantapur Durbar Square at the end of the declaration rally, “Many such diseases can be prevented if the people focus on physical exercise and nutrition and avoid drinking and smoking.”
Addressing the mass rally at Basantapur, Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala said that such diseases can be prevented if the people switch to a healthy lifestyle.
According to the MoH, one-third of Nepal’s population is suffering from hypertension while 15 percent from diabetes. Forty-four percent deaths and 80 percent of OPD patients are affected by non-communicable diseases. Out of the OPD patients in hospitals, 43 percent suffer from COPD (respiratory problems), 40 percent from heart problems, 12 percent from diabetes and five percent from cancer.
Eighteen percent of the population is affected by obesity while four percent are suffering from high obesity, according to the ministry. Seventy-four percent of the people in rural areas burn wood and manure for cooking while people in the urban areas are forced to inhale fumes from vehicles, industries and waste burning, according to the ministry.
