Kathmandu, June 20:

The Home Ministry today nominated actors Rajesh Hamal and Bipana Thapa as goodwill ambassadors for its year-long campaign against drug abuse.

According to the ministry, the government has decided to nominate reputed personalities of the country as goodwill ambassadors for the effective execution of anti-drug control measures from this year onward. The ministry took the move ahead of the World Day Against Drug Abuse and Day Against Illicit Drug Trafficking, which fall on June 26.

“I am happy to be the goodwill ambassador for the anti-drug abuse campaign. As drug abuse is the problem of the entire society, why not give a try to control it?” Hamal told reporters.

Thapa said she will spread messages against drug abuse.

The government has launched a week-long anti-drug abuse campaign with the slogan, “Is your life under the control of narcotic drugs? Let us keep our life and community away from drug abuse.”

Health and Population minister Girirajmani Pokharel today inaugurated a motorcycle rally held to spread messages against drug abuse. The ministry plans to organise different programmes as part of the week-long anti-drug campaign.