Strict implementation of salt iodization pushed

CEBU, Philippines - The National Nutrition Council (NNC) hopes that newly-elected officials, especially local chief executives, will strictly implement salt iodization in their respective local government units.

NNC-7 head Dr. Parolita Mission said during the Stakeholder’s Forum on Salt Iodization Program at the Cebu Grand Hotel that this would be of great help in attaining their goal to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in 2016.

“We are encouraging them to make a move and we would like to educate LGU heads that the salt iodization program will be part of their agenda as well as the reduction of IDD cases in their respective localities,” said Mission.

Mission added that IDD is a variety of abnormality that manifests when the body does not get enough iodine which includes goiter, reproductive failures like miscarriage and stillbirth, and congenital anomalies which include deaf-mutism, squint, poor growth and mental retardation.

She added that in each day of delay, 300 mothers die in childbirth due to iron deficiency, 4,000 children die from the effects of Vitamin A deficiency and 50,000 infants are born with reduced mental capacity due to IDD based on the regional statistics she presented.

Mission said that there is a maintained improvement in the elimination of IDD in overall population from 2005 to 2008 except for pregnant women.

Dr. Amparo Florida, former medical city health officer, said that Cebu City, during the time of Mayor Alvin Garcia, has been very strict in the implementation of salt iodization.

Florida added that being part of the sanitary inspection group, they will monitor all salts that will arrive in the port and even those sold in the market using the testing kits, to know if its iodized or not.

However, Rica Reina Aumentado of FDA said that they have communication problems with the Philippine Port Authority, as the latter would not inform FDA when imported salts arrive in the country or in the different provinces.

Dr. Cynthia Genosolango, medical specialist of the Cebu Provincial Health Office, said that they have been keen in implementing the salt iodization program in the markets of the different municipalities.

She added they have found that there are still non-adequately iodized salts sold in the market and they are still studying what sanctions to impose on those who are selling non-iodized salt.

This year, Regional Director Asuncion Anden of DOH-CHD-7, said they would like to reactivate the Regional “Bantay Asin Task Force”, to fully implement the Salt Iodization Program and the ASIN Law and at the same time, prevent the rise of IDD in Central Visayas.

“I am urging all of you to stay vigilant, be proactive and help the Department of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Nutrition Council in our efforts to reinvigorate the implementation of Salt and Iodization Program in the Central Visayas starting in today’s forum,” said Anden in a statement presented during the forum. /MBG (FREEMAN)