Pokhara, Apr. 5: About sixty-seven percent of homes have toilets in Kaski district while the rest have no such sanitary facilities.

This was revealed in a survey report presented at a seminar on ” The Need of Sanitation Drive” organised here jointly by Nepal Environmental Journalists’ Group, Kathmandu, and the Kaski District Development Committee. Since contaminated water and lack of sanitation are the main factors responsible for the spread of communicable diseases, the seminar participants have called for a drive to make the district people aware of the need to built toilets at their homes.

Member of the Environmental Journalists’ Group Bhairav Risal revealed that similar seminars would be held in 13 other districts in the next ten months.

People’s representatives, social workers, journalists, those involved in public health and drinking water sectors and UNESCO representative attended the seminar.

Meanwhile in Bhaktapur, the anti-tobacco flame under the campaign organised against consumption of tobacco with the slogan “stop consumption of tobacco products and be healthy” was handed over to Minister of State for Labour Surendra Hamal here recently. The anti-tobacco flame campaign was organised at the call of world health organisation (WHO) under joint auspices of Health Ministry, Nepal Jaycees and National Sports Council last Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State Hamal called on non-government organisations to join hands with the government in increasing public awareness against tobacco products.

Chief of Bhaktapur cancer hospital Dr. Madan Kumar Piya, international convenor of Nepal Jaycees Roshan Navin Tamrakar and other speakers also expressed their views at the function chaired by National President of Nepal Jaycees Phool Kumar Lalwani.