Iodine Deficiency Disorder Day: A pinch in time saves lives

Government attention could prove a game-changer.

ISLAMABAD:

The government, it seems, is least-bothered to tackle the growing health issues related to iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and the IDD Control Bill 2009 is a testament to it.

The bill has been awaiting approval from the Cabinet Division for over five years now.



In connection with Global IDD Day, observed every year on October 23, the head of the National Nutrition Directorate Dr Baseer Achakzai said the absence of legislation has affected quality control measures, resulting in lower production and consumption of iodised salt.



According to him, in the absence of a regulatory body, even salt which is labelled as iodised may be mislabelled. Only 69 per cent households in Pakistan actually use iodised salt which is unsatisfactory.



“Once the bill is passed and effectively implemented in county, it would help save almost half the people currently at risk of IDD, particularly newborns who develop irreversible mental impairments due to it,” he said.



A programme specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said very few people know that it cost only 25 paisas to meet our daily iodine requirement. “An average adult requires one teaspoon full of iodine for a whole lifetime to prevent disorders like mental retardation, loss of cognitive abilities, stillbirths, miscarriages, and births with congenital abnormalities.”



Quoting the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) 2011, he said 63.7 per cent of Pakistani mothers are unaware of the adverse affect of IDD and that UNICEF has estimated that every year, around 5 million babies born in the country fail to develop fully due to the deficiency.



A senior gynaecologist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) wishing to remain anonymous said most of the pregnant women coming from rural areas were unaware of the importance of using iodine.



“They usually consume food rich in fats, iron and protein but ignore the use of iodine, which often results in miscarriages, abortions and stillbirths,” she said.

She said iodine deficiency is a major reason behind maternal and neonatal deaths and that it should not be ignored.



“The only thing lacking is political commitment. The day the government starts taking the issue seriously, many mothers and newborns’ lives can be saved,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2013.