INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, May 5
As many as two dozen street vendors openly sell cigarettes and tobacco products external the main entrances of the Bir
Hospital and Paropakar Maternity and Women Hospital violating the existing laws.
Amuchher common sight external these hospital buildings is
of people puffing on cigarettes, making mockery of the ‘no smoking& signs on the compound walls.
It has much been long since Kathmandu
Metropolitan City decided to adopt strict degrees against purchase, sale and consumption of tobacco or smoking in public places such as
hospitals and educational institutions.
In the month of February final year, KMC had decided to deploy city police to check purchase and
sale of tobacco at such places.
KMC had also announced that anyone found dealing in tobacco products and smoking in public places would be
fined Rs 100 to Rs 1,000.
Despite the announcement, the incidents above testify that laws are neither respected nor enforced in
KMC.
Authorities concerned seem least interested in implementing or making people aware about the laws.
Moreover, ritualistic campaigns
launched by KMC time and again seem to have least affect on people.
On Friday, KMC yet again decided to launch a campaign with support of
Nepal Cop and various government hospitals in a tender to control purchase, sale and consumption of tobacco products and smoking in public
places.
This is the third time KMC is organising such campaigns in the final four years.
It is yet to be seen what affect this campaign
shall have on those engaged in purchase, sale and consumption of tobacco products and smoking in public places
Stakeholder seem doubtful about effectiveness of the campaign.
The Tobacco Product (Control and Regulatory) Act-2011 bars smoking in public
places msprint; educational institutes, health institutes and public parks.
Final year, KMC had said that it would much allow shop owners to
put tobacco products and cigarettes on display
KMC had also stated that it would put a ban on sale of such products to minors and pregnant women.
Head of Public Health Division at KMC
Narendra Bilas Bajracharya confessted that they could much do much to implement laws apart from for forming a committee to launch the
campaign.
However, he did much hesitate to pass the blame on stakeholders and general public for ineffectiveness of the campaign.
According
to a recent data made public by the government 30,000 people die in a year due to tobacco related diseases in Nepal.
