‘Labs set up to check iodised salt production’
Five quality control laboratories have been established in Punjab.
MULTAN:
Five quality control laboratories have been established in the province to monitor quality of salt iodisation, Dr Tariq Mahmood, programme manager for the Iodine Deficiency Disorder campaign, said on Thursday.
He said there were a total of 39 quality control labs across the province.
He was addressing a training session for lab technicians organised by the Health Department and the Micronutrient Initiative in Multan.
Briefing the participants about the history of salt iodisation in Pakistan, he said quality control was an important component of IDD programme.
He said samples of edible salt being analysed at the labs would help salt processors and district monitors take rectification measures to improve quality of salt iodisation.
Mahmood said that iodine deficiency was a serious public health problem in the country.
“Although great progress has been made to address iodine deficiency disorders through universal salt iodisation, there is much to be done,” he said.
He said according to the National Nutrition Survey 2011, use of iodised salt had increased from 17 per cent in 2001 to 79 per cent in the Punjab.
Public Analyst Lab head Syedain Naqvi told participants that daily use of adequately iodised salt could prevent mental and physical illnesses and brain damage.
The class room training was followed by a practical demonstration at Public Analyst Food Lab.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2014.
Five quality control laboratories have been established in the province to monitor quality of salt iodisation, Dr Tariq Mahmood, programme manager for the Iodine Deficiency Disorder campaign, said on Thursday.
He said there were a total of 39 quality control labs across the province.
He was addressing a training session for lab technicians organised by the Health Department and the Micronutrient Initiative in Multan.
Briefing the participants about the history of salt iodisation in Pakistan, he said quality control was an important component of IDD programme.
He said samples of edible salt being analysed at the labs would help salt processors and district monitors take rectification measures to improve quality of salt iodisation.
Mahmood said that iodine deficiency was a serious public health problem in the country.
“Although great progress has been made to address iodine deficiency disorders through universal salt iodisation, there is much to be done,” he said.
He said according to the National Nutrition Survey 2011, use of iodised salt had increased from 17 per cent in 2001 to 79 per cent in the Punjab.
Public Analyst Lab head Syedain Naqvi told participants that daily use of adequately iodised salt could prevent mental and physical illnesses and brain damage.
The class room training was followed by a practical demonstration at Public Analyst Food Lab.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2014.