Iodine deficiency still plagues AP

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
21st oct 2008
I October 21 st observed as Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Day I
People of the state are still unable to get iodised cooking salt of proper standards that helps fight goitre, retardation in children and reproductive failure in females.
Health experts are sad that even on Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Day, which falls on October 21, no thought is being given to this health need of the populace. A survey conducted by the Institute of Preventive Medicine in 2007-08 on salt samples collected from manufacturing units, distribution points and from households found that a large section of people were consuming low-iodine salt. Out of 7.3 lakh samples tested, 2.56 lakh have less than 15 ppm of Iodine which is below the standard prescribed. “This is due to lack of standards in preparing the salts and because of evaporation,” says Dr P. Sucharitha Murthy, director of IPM. The state government is supposed to conduct a five year term survey of goitre incidence. However the survey has not been conducted since 1996. “For the past three years there are no funds granted to the department for the programme,” said the Additional Director (Communicable Diseases), Dr Ram Swaroop. East Godavari tops in the number of Goitre cases in the State with 64.5 per cent prevalence.
In Srikakulam the prevalence is 12.6 percent.
“From the city too we get hypothyroidism cases regularly and treat them in Endocrinology and Medicine department,” says the Gandhi Hospital Superintendent, Dr B. Balaraju. “Around 40 cases are reported every month in Gandhi Hospital alone.” As part of global initiative to weed out the problem of iodine deficiency the Centre launched the National Goitre Control Programme in 1962 and it was later renamed as National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme.
The government has in fact banned non-iodised salt for direct human consumption in the entire country under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act from May 2006.
“In all, 263 districts out of 324 were found to be endemic for iodine deficiency disorder,” said the Joint Director (Industrial Health and Iodine Deficiency programme), Dr R. Satyavati.
The government also aided 15 companies to set up plants in private sector that produce 4.49 lakh tonnes of Iodised salt per year. This year under National Rural Health Mission around Rs 20 lakh was allocated for the programme. But the funds have not reached officials as yet.
“If the funds are released we will conduct Goitre survey in remaining ten districts,” said Dr Satyavati.
The tragic dimension of iodine deficiency is that it is so easily preventable, if authorities have the will.
“A person needs 150 micro gram of Iodine a day and it costs only Rs 6 per person every month,” says the Joint Director (health), Dr R. Satyavati. “By spend ing a meagre amount we can stave off the disorder.” The state government is taking up a year-long awareness campaign to urge the public to use iodised salt.
The primary sources of dietary iodine are saltwater fish and seaweed. Trace amounts can also be found in grains, bread, milk, eggs, and meat. Fruits contain little iodine, as do vegetables with the exception of spinach.
However, an abrupt increase in dietary iodine can also cause hyperthyroidism in some people.