Smokers Are Not Selfish

Smokers are not selfish was a health campaign that took place in Nepal with the aim of encouraging individuals to quit smoking. This event spanned two weeks, culminating on February 14, 2024, which coincided with both Valentine's Day and Vasant Panchami. It was initiated by Dr. Om Murti Anil. The campaign used an emotional appeal that framed smoking cessation as a meaningful act of love for one's family. According to reports, it successfully helped 2500 individuals to quit smoking.

The campaign was predominantly digital, using Facebook and other social media platforms to raise awareness about tobacco risks. It combined online pledges, medical consultations, motivational support and community participation to encourage smoking cessation. It was organized by Dr. Om Foundation and engaged nearly 19000 school children in poetry, quiz and art competitions based on the theme of harmful effects of tobacco to promote tobacco free lifestyle. Its combination of emotional appeal, medical support and youth education was recognized as an innovative public health approach in a country like Nepal where tobacco use remains a major health risk.

Background

According to the STEPS survey II carried out in 2019 by Nepal Health Research Council and the government of Nepal with technical support from the WHO, 28.9% of adults (aged 15–69 years) either smoked or use smokeless tobacco products. Among them 17.1 percent are currently smoking. The average age for initiation of smoking among those who smoke daily is 17.7 for men, 18.4 for female and 17.8 for both sexes.

Out of 8 million deaths due to tobacco consumption per year worldwide, 1.3 million are attributed to passive smoking which mainly affects children, elderly and chronic diseased individuals. Among 1.3 billion tobacco users across the world, 80 percent of burden is in lower and middle income countries like Nepal that further signifies the importance of this campaign. As per data from National Health Education, Information and Communication Center more than 27,000 people die annually due to illnesses related to tobacco consumption in Nepal.  

In alignment with Hindu mythology, Vasant Panchami is associated with the worship of Goddess Saraswati, symbolizing knowledge and wisdom. The launch of this campaign on Valentine's Day holds special significance, as it encourages individuals to make a meaningful sacrifice, expressing love to their dear ones by giving up smoking with a purposeful intention.

Slogan and Purpose

The campaign adopted the slogan, ''"A small sacrifice from me, a big gift for my beloved"'', translated into Nepali as ''“मेरो सानो त्याग, मयालुको लागि ठुलो उपहार”''. This slogan represents the campaign's core message: encouraging individuals to quit smoking not only for personal health but as an act of love and responsibility toward family and loved ones. By aligning the campaign’s culmination with Valentine's Day and the culturally significant festival of Vasant Panchami, the initiative aimed to encourage smoking cessation as a meaningful and symbolic gesture of affection. The purpose was to highlight the broader social and emotional implications of quitting smoking, emphasizing that the act benefits not just the individual but those around them as well.

Campaign Procedure and Activities

The campaign focused on digital outreach, community interaction, and personalized support. It combined virtual engagement tools with offline follow-up strategies to encourage smoking cessation among individuals and families.

Virtual Launch: The campaign was officially launched on January 1, 2023, live on the Facebook page of Dr. Om Murti Anil, which has 1.2 million followers. The launch attracted 6,672 live viewers and was subsequently disseminated through various social media platforms and mainstream media to reach a wide and diverse audience. A public announcement was also made through the official page of the Dr. Om Foundation, encouraging individuals to take a meaningful step toward quitting smoking.

Commitment via Google Form: Interested participants were directed to fill out a Google Form hosted on the Foundation’s website. This form collected personal details and a formal declaration of their intent to quit smoking. By the end of the campaign, more than 1,700 had already expressed the commitment .

Medical Support: After submission, each participant were contacted by the Medical team and was given personalized support in the process of quitting smoking. This included motivational follow-ups and personalized communication to encourage continued commitment. The participants who pledged to quit were contacted individually and invited for a free medical checkup at the National Cardiac Centre in Kathmandu.

Free Health Screening: 1700 individuals who stopped smoking as part of this campaign received personal calls and underwent comprehensive health screenings, including free tests for sugar levels, cholesterol, ECG, and Echo to detect any heart ailments, performed by National Cardiac Center Kathmandu. They were encouraged to remain smoke-free and received ongoing counseling and support to prevent relapse. This individualized approach along with cardiovascular risk screening was central to the campaign's strategy to help participants maintain their decision to quit smoking. National Cardiac Centre had also committed to provide similar care and support to those who promise to quit smoking in the future.

Media Activation for awareness: Daily content, including testimonial videos, graphics, motivational quotes, and educational facts about smoking and health, was shared across various platforms. Campaign hashtags and short videos helped amplify the reach, while public figures like Hari Bansha Acharya supported the initiative by sharing their own messages of encouragement on social media.

Event on 14th February: The campaign culminated in a special event featuring interactive sessions where participants shared their personal experiences and took part in group discussions about their journey to quit smoking. Educational presentations were organized to highlight the health risks of tobacco use and the long-term benefits of quitting. To recognize their commitment, participants received certificates, and complimentary copies of Jiwanta Sambandha were distributed as tokens of motivation and encouragement.

Reception

A 35-year-old man from Lalitpur tried to quit smoking 20 to 25 times in the past but failed every time. Then he joins this campaign and successfully quit smoking and express his feelings in this way: ''“I feel I would succeed 100 percent this time in quitting smoking and You motivated me to quit cigarette."'' He thanks Dr. Om Murti Anil, leader of this campaign, and expresses his desires to meet him when he completely stops smoking.”

In his editorial for Nagarik Daily, Editor-in-Chief Gunaraj Luitel highlights the distinctive and constructive nature of the ongoing campaign. He encourages individuals to contribute their support at their respective levels for this noteworthy public initiative.

Another success story was reported in The Himalayan Times, where cardiologist Dr. Sagar Thapa shared the journey of a 45-year-old banker who overcame a long-term smoking habit through the campaign. The banker expressed that the campaign’s message deeply moved him, prompting him to quit smoking. Gradually, he was able to stop the medicines for hypertension with medical guidance and expressed his gratitude for the campaign's role in transforming his life.

Another example of public involvement was shared by educator Susmita Shrestha in The Rising Nepal where she described how a school art competition organized under the campaign led a seventh-grade student to draw a powerful image about the effects of secondhand smoking. The drawing deeply moved her father, a longtime smoker, who silently reflected on its message and soon began his journey to quit smoking. This small act of expression made a significant change within the family.

Similarly, in The Himalayan Times, author Simone Galimberti acknowledged the positive impact of such awareness initiatives and highlighted the campaign as a promising development in the fight against smoking in Nepal. While calling for stronger rule enforcement and long-term planning at the municipal level, Galimberti recognized the campaign's role in educating youth and encouraging behavior change, particularly when linked with school-based activities and civil society collaboration. He emphasized that the campaign, when paired with local governance efforts like those in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, could form a robust model for curbing tobacco use through both community engagement and institutional action.

School health programmes

School children were involved in quiz, poem and art competitions on smoking and its ill-effects. This campaign took place all over Nepal on virtual platform in initiation of Dr. Om Foundation. With this novel initiative, It’s thought that such involvement may prevent teenagers to get involved in harmful use of tobacco products.To strengthen tobacco awareness among youth, the Dr. Om Foundation launched a nationwide virtual school program as part of this campaign. The initiative aimed to educate students on the health risks of smoking and to prevent early initiation of tobacco use. Approximately 19,000 students from schools across the country participated in these competitions.

Quiz Competition

The quiz competition was open to students up to grade 12 from schools across Nepal. Participants competed in teams, answering questions related to smoking, passive smoking, and health education. The quiz aimed to improve understanding through interactive and collaborative learning.

Poetry Competition

Students from grades 1 to 12 were invited to submit poems focusing on the harmful effects of smoking and the importance of quitting. The competition encouraged participants to express health messages creatively and reflect on the social and emotional consequences of tobacco use.

Art Competition

The art competition was designed for students up to grade 8, who submitted drawings illustrating the effects of smoking on individuals, families, and society. The activity aimed to convey anti-smoking messages through visual expression and to raise awareness from a young age.

Participation and Recognition

A total of 17 students were selected and awarded across all three categories based on their creativity, message, and relevance to the campaign theme. A special award ceremony was held in Kathmandu to honor all winners from the quiz, poetry, and art competitions. Mr. Suresh Adhikari, Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, served as the chief guest. Dr. Om Murti Anil personally addressed the event, emphasizing the role of young minds in building a tobacco-free society. Cash prizes, certificates, and medals were distributed as tokens of appreciation for the students’ creativity, effort, and dedication to spreading awareness.

References

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Health in Nepal
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