KATHMANDU: A survey of 15-64 years old concluded in 15 districts across the country over a period of three months has unveiled a frightening data on the use of tobacco in Nepal. The survey has concluded that 37 percent of the total population in the country are tobacco users.

Though no comparable data are available due to the dearth of statistics in the past, interviewers collected data from 4,328 respondents in five development regions and three ecological zones to reason out that the use of the tobacco (both chewable and smoke) has indeed been phenomenal in Nepal. This came to light today at a dissemination seminar of the 2008 survey on “non-communicable diseases rich factors” organised in the capital. Minister for Health and Population unveiled the report.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory

illness and diabetes are among the leading causes of mortality, associated with increasing use of tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and low intake of fruits and vegetables.

In their worst forms, the behavioural risk factors associated with the unhealthy diet and physical inactivity have contributed to high blood pressure, obesity, high blood glucose and increased cholesterol levels, which in turn cause heart diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung diseases, the WHO has said.

Likewise, the recent survey has shown that on average 28.5 per cent of the total population are currently consuming alcoholic drinks. The data is again based on interviews conducted among 4,328 respondents.

The survey recommended the ministry for developing guidelines, protocols and a systematic collection of data on non communicable diseases, which it argued could help contain the diseases.

Dr Gunawan Satiadi, public health administrator at the WHO informed that the non-communicable diseases account for 80 per cent of deaths in low and middle-income countries.

He describes the non-communicable diseases as ‘invisible epidemic’ , which is also responsible for

causing poverty and hindering the economic development of many countries in the South.