PROJECTS

Health Education and Tobacco Intervention Program in Nepal 1999-2009

ETRA Association has been working together with Nepalese health- and schoolauthorities in fighting against smoking habit in Nepal.

It was in the 10th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Beijing in the year 1997 when ETRA Association was asked to come to Nepal. In the meeting Dr Pandey told that in Nepal people are smoking most in Asia (about 70 %). People were smoking less in the capital and terai areas, but in hilly and mountain areas about 85 % of men and 70 % of women were smoking. In these areas women topped world statistics.

ETRA Association was asked to come to Nepal because it had been working in Tanzania and China as a WHO consult in tobacco intervention and it had also worked in the Finnish schools with the health ministry in Finland. It was in the year 1999 when the Health Minister of Nepal, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, opened the first Tobacco Intervention Program in its Inauguration Festival. In 2008 Dr Ram Baran Yadav was chosen the first president of Nepal.

The money for the project has been received from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland. The responsibility of the project in Nepal has been carried by Scheer Memorial Hospital and its health educator Sundar Thapa, who has been the project leader in Nepal..

The pilot project was arranged in Kavrepalanchowk in 1999.

In 2001-2003 the work continued in seven different districts (Kavrepalanchowk, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Nawalparasi, Tanahun, Kaski). A 2-day health course was arranged in 65 schools. All the principals, health officials and class teachers and ca 32.000 students from grades 4.-10. were reached. Besides in all the villages there was a street drama arranged and they were seen by more than 80.000 students and parents.

During the years 2004-2006 the program was continued in 16 different districts (2004: Dhankuta, Ilam, Ydayapur, Jhapa, Sunsari ja Sihara; 2005: Palpa, Rupandeshin, Baglund ja Parbat ja 2006: Pyuthan, Dang, Banke, Surkhet, Dhanusa). In them 108.060 students and 3000 teachers were reached. Alltogether 141.657 Nepalese saw the street dramas. The Ministry for Foreing Affairs in Finland gave each year 40.000 eur for the program. ETRA Association was responsible of 10.000 eur/year.

The program has continued 2007-2009 by the financial help from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland with 68.000 eur/year. According to the project plan 40.000 students will be reached each year in Nepal. In 2007 Baitadi, Doti, Kailali, Dailekh, Bajhang ja Kachanpur were visited. The two-day health course was arranged in 67 schools to 46.000 students from grades 5.-10. The street play drama was followed by 65.000 students and family members. In 2008 the target areas have been Jumla, Sindhupalchowk, Dhahing, Rolpa and Bardiya. In them 68 schools, 38.000 students and 1.300 teachers were reached as well as 51.000 by street play dramas.

By the end of the year 2008 the health education course have been arranged in 332 schools to 212.943 students and 8.810 teachers and 319.516 students have seen the street play drama.

From the initiation of the program Nepalese health authorities have succeeded very well to unroot the smoking habit from the country. According to the WHO smoking atatistics in the year 2005 only about 30 % of the adult population were smokers. It is nearing Finnish smoking statistics (27 %). This is mostly due to the fact that the new generation which has gone to school does not smoke. Nepal even ratified WHO's FCTC-dokument before Finland.

Health Education and Tobacco Intervention Program target Districts in Nepal 2001-2009.

All the schools have decided to become smokefree. Almost all the smoking teachers and students have promised to stop smoking. Even about 20 percent of the parents have promised to do that.

More information of the schools where the program has been arranged since 1999. No Smoking Zone -schools