Kathmandu: Minister of State for Health Tirtharam Dangol has stressed the need to discourage the production of tobacco products as the revenue received from it is not sufficient for the treatment of the health problems created by consuming tobacco products.

Mr. Dangol was speaking at a programme organised at   Hanuman Dhoka Durbar area today on the second day of the  South East Asia flame publicity campaign against smoking.

On the occasion, director of the National Health Education, Information and Communication Centre Laxmi Raman Won said a person dies every eight seconds from the consumption of tobacco products.

President of Nepal Jaycees Ful Kumar Lalwani said   as the youths have a special role to play in quiting tobacco consumption,   organisations like the Nepal Jaycees and the National Sports Council are involved in this sacred  campaign.

Chief of division at the National Sports Council Ramesh Khanal said if the amount spent on tobacco is spent on the education of the children, the family, society as well as the country itself  will have a bright future.

President of the National Sports Council Kathmandu District Committee Chandra Binod Chalise said the policy adopted by Nepal regarding tobacco related products is unfortunate. One Ministry gives emphasis to the production of tobacco products while another Ministry says it should be discouraged. Such a contradictory policy should be abolished and the product should be banned, he added.

International Lions Club, district vice president Sriram Shrestha called on all to engage in the anti-tobacco campaign.

From the chair, Pushpa Hira Tuladhar of the Kathmandu Women’s Jaycees said that the women should be involved in the anti-tobacco campaign.