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Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Day
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As the world celebrates IDD day on 23 October, with significant advances made in salt iodization campaign,
Pakistan is progressively lagging behind from its South Asian counters part in salt iodization policy.
While salt iodization uptake in Pakistan has dipped to 17 percent from a high of 90 percent during vigorous
campaign in the 90s, it has increased to 78 percent in Bangladesh and Nepal
Iodine Deficiency is the world’s most prevalent yet easily preventable cause of brain damage. This micronutrient
deficiency disorder is most commonly seen among poor, pregnant women and preschool children imposing serious
threat to the economy of developing countries. The whole spectrum of health consequences linked is;
1. Birth defects, increased neonatal mortality
2. Brain damage, goiter, thyroid deficiency
3. Impaired physical and mental growth and diminished school performance
4. Decreased fertility, spontaneous abortions and still births in pregnant women.
Pakistan is rated 6th amongst the countries, where iodine deficiency is a serious public health problem, despite efforts over the past several decades there has been little improvement in the situation. According to the most recent National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan 2001-02,
• Approximately more than 50 percent population of the country is at risk of IDDs.
• 22.9 percent school aged children and 36.5 percent of mothers of children under 5 are severely iodine deficient.
• Utilization of iodized salt at the household level is only 17 percent which is the lowest as compared to all the countries in the south Asian region.
The 1990 World Summit for Children set the goal of eliminating iodine deficiencies by 2000 and Pakistan government undertook to eliminate IDD by the year 2000. The National goal of Universal Salt Iodization modified to 2010 and elimination of iodine deficiency is to be achieved by 2013.
The Network for Consumer Protection, working in collaboration with UNICEF, Ministry of health and Nutrition wing has developed a range of alliances with media, civil society, health professionals, large consumers and policy makers to achieve these goals.
Dr. Arif azad Executive Coordinator of TheNetwork stated that IDD global days provide us with an opportunity to take stock of our slippage from health targets on USI campaign it is deeply troubling that we have fallen behind Bangladesh and Nepal. With little investment and strong political government can improve public health goals of mother and child heath by fully signing up to USI campaign. By promoting awareness and consumer demand for iodized salt we can prevent a whole generation from falling into diminished mental and physical health. For prosperous and productive future generation we need to pledge ourselves to promote a culture of using iodized salt. A bill to save the people of Pakistan from Iodine Deficiency Disorders through the Compulsory Iodization of all salt intended would be a good start of government public health goals .Civil society alliance on IDD pledges to work for promotion and implementation of USI and planned a number of events for IDD day.
For further details
Ms Rubina Bhatti
Project Coordinator
Dr Sadia Assad
Program Coordinator
051-2261085
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