IMPHAL, February 25: A one-day state level sensitisation meeting of National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP), Manipur was organised by the National Rural Health Mission (IDD cell) at the MACS Conference Hall, R&D Wing, Lamphelpat.
Speaking at the sensitisation meeting, Additional Director of Health, Dr Manikanta said it is a very complex problem but can be cured. The said syndrome needs to be eradicated by organising such programmes at the community level to educate people about its preventive measures so that it will be eradicated from the grass roots.
He continued that today`™s sensitization meeting will bring positive outcome in-order to control the Iodine deficiency disorder.
Giving an overview of NIDDCP, Dr L Ashananda Singh, the regional director, Health & Family Welfare, GOI said Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) like goiter, cretinism and mental retardation are easily prevented by using iodised salt in cooking to prevent the tragic consequences of iodine deficiency in all family members.
A goiter is when the thyroid gland in the neck swells. It is painless but can be discomforting. It can be prevented by using iodized salt, he said.
He further said that cretinism is the most serious form of mental retardation which causes the child`™s brain and body to be seriously and permanently stunted. The child will not be able to walk, talk or think normally, and added that the use of iodized salt cannot cure cretinism or mental retardation but can only prevent it.
Pregnant women who do not get enough iodine are more likely to have miscarriages or give birth to mentally or physically impaired babies. Iodine deficient mothers will give birth to iodine deficient babies, he said.
Lack of iodine can cause lifelong brain damages to babies even if they look normal, as they grow, the brain damage will show up as poor school performances and the inability to work well, he added.
He stated that IDD babies may be physically less coordinated than healthy babies; in severe cases, the babies might be born with cretinism and their weight will be very less.
The regional director gave a message to use iodised salt to prevent related problems as iodised salt is safe for everyone.
He said that every year, thousands of child/adult dies or become crippled due to iodine deficiency. Iodine is a micro nutrient which is essential for normal growth, development and functioning of both brain and body. The average daily requirement for an adult is 150 micrograms of salt.
Dr L Ashananda Singh also highlighted that the objective of NIDDCP is to assess the magnitude of the IDD by surveying, to supply iodated salt in place of common salt, to assess extent of IDD and the impact of iodated salt after every five years by survey, to monitor iodated salt in urinary and to publicize through health education and wide publicity.