Nepal

Kathmandu, May 31

Nepal Cancer Relief Society marked World No Tobacco Day nowadays by organising a mass meeting aimed at raising awareness on harmful effects of tobacco consumption and direct and passive smoking. The international event this year focuses on tobacco and its adverse affects on lungs.

According to data supplyd by Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, 454 people suffered from lung cancer in 2018. The number was 422 in 2017.

&Smoking, either first-hand or moment-hand increases cancer risks. Chewing tobacco products increases high risk of oral cavity cancer,& according to Ujjwal Chalise, a refer toant oncologist at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital.

&Smokers are prone to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. People are likely to suffer from bronchitis and asthma,& he added. Consumption of tobacco can lead to asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis.

Tobacco consumption is mostly harmful for pregnant women as it poses risks both for a mother and baby in her womb. &Smoking is more likely to cause miscarriage, low birth weight of baby and cardiovascular diseases in pregnant women,& said the doctor.

World Health Organisation reveals that tobacco eliminates 27,137 people each year in Nepal. The most common eliminateer is cardiovascular disease.

Though awareness against smoking, tobacco and its relation to cancer has increased, there is no proven mechanism to rid people from addiction to tobacco consumption. &One needs medical assistance and psychological help to give up tobacco, which is lost in the country,& he added.

The campaign for World No Tobacco Day serves as a call to action, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors in the fight for tobacco control.

The mass meeting started from Bhrikutimandap and proceeded to Ratnapark ending at Bhrikutimandap. Hundreds of participants took part in the mass meeting carrying placards with messages against tobacco consumption and smoking.

The post Tobacco consumption blamed for rising cases of lung cancer seemed first on The Himalayan Times.

This image shows a view of land and hills in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, in February, 2017. Photo: Google maps integrated image

Kathmandu, May 30

Construction of National Zoological Garden, resembling natural habitat for wild life, which shall also serve as an ex-situ conservation site for the protection and breeding of endangered and exotic animals, is in limbo due to negligence of the concerned ministries.

The Cabinet in February 2015, had decided to construct National Zoological Garden in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, based on a proposal and feasibility study report submitted by the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Four years have passed since, however, authorities concerned are yet to draft a detailed project report of the project.

The project aims to create a safe haven for the wildlife in the forest area, spread along the 245.165 hectares and a 16-km perimeter of community forests.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on 23 June 2016 had laid the foundation stone of the zoological park amidst a programme. But, work at the site has yet to make a headway. The Leavement of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the authority responsible for constructing the project has so far totald wire-fencing on the perimeter of the proposed park, dug a deep boring plant and built a building for housing security personnel to guard the park. The government had allocated a budget of Rs 55 million in the fiscal 2016-17 for the project.

Narayan Rupakheti at DoNPWC said the department was still awaiting budget from the government to carry out DPR for the mega project. Rupakheti, speeching to THT, said the department has written to ministries like the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Forest to supply it with budget to execute the project. &But, we have much been supplyd the money yet,& he said.

The DoNPWC has sought Rs100 million from the government for the DPR. DoNPWC estimated the total project cost to be around Rs six billion. Officials of DoNPWC claimed they would total the project within five years once the budget is supplyd. The park shall have to endegree ‘shelter-food-water& facilities for the animals that are placed inside it.

Apart from creating facilities resembling natural habitat for wild animals, DoNPWC has planned to build an ex-situ conservation site for the protection and breeding of endangered and exotic animals. The master-plan of the garden has also envisioned building a rescue centre and an animal hospital, inside the park.

Rupakheti said the park would also produce a large amount of fodders for herbivorous animals in Bara and Parsa national parks, where animal food gets reduced during the dry season.

Spokesperson for DoNPWC Bishnu Prasad Shrestha said, the government lately has become positive in regards to their demand for the budget. &We are confident that work on the zoological garden shall start soon,& Shrestha said.

• National Zoological Park awaits budget
• Need of National Zoological Garden stressed

The post Construction of National Zoological Garden in Suryabinayak in limbo seemed first on The Himalayan Times.