50 million Pakistanis suffer from iodine deficiency
Muhammad Qasim
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Well over 135 million people in Pakistan have insufficient iodine intake while over 50 million are suffering from iodine deficiency.
Various surveys on iodine status worldwide list Pakistan as having severe iodine deficiency where according to estimates, more than five million children born every year are unprotected against brain damage because of the phenomenon.
Pakistan is rated 6th among the countries, where iodine deficiency is a serious health problem as 70% of the total population of Pakistan is at risk of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs). Head of Community Medicine at CMH Lahore Medical College Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry expressed this while talking to The News in connection with Global Iodine Deficiency Day, which is being observed throughout the world today (Sunday).
Iodine Deficiency is the worlds most prevalent yet easily preventable cause of brain damage. Iodine is considered as essential for the normal growth, development and well being of all humans. Dr Ashraf said that the whole spectrum of health problems linked to iodine deficiency is collectively known as Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs). IDD is most commonly seen among poor, pregnant women and preschool children.
According to health experts, Pakistan is among the countries where iodine deficiency is a serious public health problem and is threat to the social and economic development of the country. Surveys reveal that not over 20 per cent of the population uses iodised salt in our country, which is incredibly low even if compared with countries with similar socio-economic conditions like Bangladesh (78%) and Nepal (98%), said Dr Ashraf. He said that iodine deficiency is so easy to prevent that it should be considered as a crime to let a single child be born mentally handicapped for that reason.
It is need of the time to create sufficient awareness among public to prevent IDDs. Effects of iodine deficiency on the baby in the mothers womb are in the form of congenital abnormalities (defects by birth), early deaths, brain damage, cretinism and deafness. Effects on the child and adolescent are goitre (enlargement of thyroid gland), impaired mental function, stunted physical growth, short stature and diminished school performance whereas effects of iodine deficiency on women are in the from of decreased fertility, spontaneous abortions and still births in pregnant women.
Dr Ashraf says that iodine deficiency can result in loss of 15 IQ points. He added that the main factor responsible for iodine deficiency is a low dietary supply of iodine that can easily be overcome. He suggested that the addition of small amount of iodine to table salt in the form of potassium iodate at very little cost can help prevent the incidence of this serious disorder. Seafood is also a known source of iodine. Other sources of iodine are bread, grains, green vegetables, milk and eggs. Daily requirement of iodine for adults is placed at 150 micrograms per day or 5 gram (1 teaspoonful) of iodised salt per day. The most viable option is having Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) of edible salt across the country, said Dr Ashraf.
He said that strong advocacy is needed for promotion of IDDs legislation and monitoring the enforcement of Universal Salt Iodisation in order to combat iodine deficiency in the country. Trainings and capacity building of salt processors at the district level can also help minimising the risk of IDDs, he said. In Pakistan, majority of public does not use iodised salt because of a number of misconceptions and it is responsibility of the civil society organizations, media, health professionals, teachers, religious leaders, social workers, salt producers/processors and policy makers to remove these misconceptions.
Dr Ashraf says that medical community can play a vital role in advocacy for the usage of iodised salt at the gross-root level and medical professionals should make masses aware of the consequences of iodine deficiency and dispel any myths, disbeliefs or misconceptions associated with the use of iodised salt.
50 million Pakistanis suffer from iodine deficiency
Muhammad Qasim
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Well over 135 million people in Pakistan have insufficient iodine intake while over 50 million are suffering from iodine deficiency.
Various surveys on iodine status worldwide list Pakistan as having severe iodine deficiency where according to estimates, more than five million children born every year are unprotected against brain damage because of the phenomenon.
Pakistan is rated 6th among the countries, where iodine deficiency is a serious health problem as 70% of the total population of Pakistan is at risk of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs). Head of Community Medicine at CMH Lahore Medical College Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry expressed this while talking to The News in connection with Global Iodine Deficiency Day, which is being observed throughout the world today (Sunday).
Iodine Deficiency is the worlds most prevalent yet easily preventable cause of brain damage. Iodine is considered as essential for the normal growth, development and well being of all humans. Dr Ashraf said that the whole spectrum of health problems linked to iodine deficiency is collectively known as Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs). IDD is most commonly seen among poor, pregnant women and preschool children.
According to health experts, Pakistan is among the countries where iodine deficiency is a serious public health problem and is threat to the social and economic development of the country. Surveys reveal that not over 20 per cent of the population uses iodised salt in our country, which is incredibly low even if compared with countries with similar socio-economic conditions like Bangladesh (78%) and Nepal (98%), said Dr Ashraf. He said that iodine deficiency is so easy to prevent that it should be considered as a crime to let a single child be born mentally handicapped for that reason.
It is need of the time to create sufficient awareness among public to prevent IDDs. Effects of iodine deficiency on the baby in the mothers womb are in the form of congenital abnormalities (defects by birth), early deaths, brain damage, cretinism and deafness. Effects on the child and adolescent are goitre (enlargement of thyroid gland), impaired mental function, stunted physical growth, short stature and diminished school performance whereas effects of iodine deficiency on women are in the from of decreased fertility, spontaneous abortions and still births in pregnant women.
Dr Ashraf says that iodine deficiency can result in loss of 15 IQ points. He added that the main factor responsible for iodine deficiency is a low dietary supply of iodine that can easily be overcome. He suggested that the addition of small amount of iodine to table salt in the form of potassium iodate at very little cost can help prevent the incidence of this serious disorder. Seafood is also a known source of iodine. Other sources of iodine are bread, grains, green vegetables, milk and eggs. Daily requirement of iodine for adults is placed at 150 micrograms per day or 5 gram (1 teaspoonful) of iodised salt per day. The most viable option is having Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) of edible salt across the country, said Dr Ashraf.
He said that strong advocacy is needed for promotion of IDDs legislation and monitoring the enforcement of Universal Salt Iodisation in order to combat iodine deficiency in the country. Trainings and capacity building of salt processors at the district level can also help minimising the risk of IDDs, he said. In Pakistan, majority of public does not use iodised salt because of a number of misconceptions and it is responsibility of the civil society organizations, media, health professionals, teachers, religious leaders, social workers, salt producers/processors and policy makers to remove these misconceptions.
Dr Ashraf says that medical community can play a vital role in advocacy for the usage of iodised salt at the gross-root level and medical professionals should make masses aware of the consequences of iodine deficiency and dispel any myths, disbeliefs or misconceptions associated with the use of iodised salt.
50 million Pakistanis suffer from iodine deficiency
