Kathmandu, November 19

The Nepal Cancer Relief Society, along with International Union Against Cancer, today organised a programme to raise awareness against smoking, one of the chief reasons behind cancer. More than 100 teachers from 90 schools in the Valley took part in the programme.

Speaking at the programme, Dr Sudip Shrestha, Medical Oncologist of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, informed the participants about cancer and the methods applied for cancer

treatment.

Medical director of the hospital Dr Rajendra Prasad Baral informed the participants about the hazards of consuming tobacco.

According to the organisers, they targeted teachers to impart information on cancer because one teacher would disseminate information to hundreds of students. The students would then pass the information to their families and subsequently to the society, the organisers said.

The campaign was launched to lobby with the government and civil society to make the country tobacco-free by 2020.