Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 30:

As the House of Representatives is yet to be reinstated, tobacco consumption could not be banned despite the fact that 15,000 Nepalis die yearly due to tobacco consumption. Dr Nirakar Man Shrestha, the chairman of Tobacco Control Cell at the Ministry of Health and Population, said that as the Parliament was not functioning, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) could not be ratified. Nepal is one of the signatories as 40 countries have already ratified the convention “With the ratification of the international law, tobacco promotion can be controlled,” said Dr Shrestha. “The tobacco industry can then be controlled and legal action taken against it.” “The government has banned tobacco advertisements in the electronic media along with public displays a year ago,” said Shrestha. He said this year’s theme of ‘Health Professionals Against Tobacco’ is very apt as patients take the advise of doctors and nurses seriously. Nepal is celebrating the World No-Tobacco Day tomorrow by organising various programmes. According to WHO, smoking is responsible for 85 per cent of liver cancer.