Health Matters

IT IS no mere coincidence that the World No Smoking Day was marked the day that the World Cup 2002 kicked off that is yesterday. The very fact that the slogan this year is "Quit Smoking—Watch Tobacco Free World Cup" indicates how widespread smoking is in this world. It is no hidden secret that those who go in for smoking regularly can be affected by 25 different kinds of diseases the cause of which may be any of the some 4,000 chemicals which are released and leads to premature death of the habitual smokers. The matter does not end here as passive smokers too are affected. World Health Organisation says that compared to deaths from diseases like HIV/AIDS, liquor, narcotic substances like heroin, cocaine, accidents, etc. the number of deaths due to smoking beats them all put together. The statistics can shock anyone: annually 5 million people die due to smoking related diseases and breaking in down means 11,000 every day. The cost of advertisements worldwide for the killer stuff crosses the 4 trillion rupees mark. These facts are unbelievable from a modest point of view but it is the reality.

Nepal, too, is not free from the deadly attacks of smoking or chewing tobacco. Though studies and findings are hard to come by yet some work has been done. According to a survey that was made public recently. 31.6 per cent or over four million people over the age of ten are habitual smokers. This is enough to reflect the extent of the problem of smoking. Moreover, it comes to light that almost 40 per cent smokers are males while 24 per cent are females. To learn that 15,000 Nepalese die every year due to the harmful effects of smoking must make everyone aware of the hazards of smoking. In fact, lack of awareness and illiteracy contributes the most for people taking up smoking. That may be the reason why smoking is more prevalent in the rural areas as compared to the cities. Everyone realises that it is a major problem but efforts have not been commensurate. In this connection, the sale and distribution of tobacco products must be monitored and controlled. The advertisement in newspapers, magazines and those aired on TV and radio must be immediately stopped. Smoking must not be glorified anywhere else as is seen in films. It might be profitable for the government and the cigarette manufacturers but the long term impacts on the health of the people must receive greater priority. A healthy population means a prosperous country so specific programmes must be designed to wean away the addicted from the deadly habit and thereby minimise the hazards of smoking.

Food For Education

IT may sound strange to hear about food for education scheme when there already is a cliché ‘food for thought’. But it is not a new phenomenon in Nepal. The country has been receiving food assistance from World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nation’s food governing body, for its school going children for years. With the food support of WFP many children and their families in the remote hills have benefited. It is a reality that in many parts of the country the poor families send their children to schools in order to get food. For them education for their children is food. WFP has been providing food support to children in primary schools so that the children do not suffer from malnutrition and be attracted towards studying in schools. It is good news that UN-WFP has extended its food assistance to five more districts of the country under the ‘Global Food for Education Initiative (GFEI). The districts include Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Marechhap, Makawanpur and Udayapur. The food programme is expected to lure children of poor, socially deprived and disadvantaged families living in scarcity in those districts. Under the programme, students of public primary and lower secondary schools will receive a daily mid-day meal (haluwa) made of fortified blended food (wheat/maize, soyabean and sugar) and vegetable ghee. Besides the programme provides a monthly ‘take home’ ration of 2 litres of vegetable oil to mothers who send their daughters to schools. With additional five districts, the number of districts where WFP reaches is now 21. So far, the food for education programme has benefitted some 250,000 children. The added support of WFP comes at an opportune time when these districts are affected badly by the Maoist terrorism. Though it does not sound practical to remain dependent on WFP for feeding the school going children, it is always welcome in times of real need.