NNC to Newly-Elected Officials: strictly implement salt iodization

The National Nutrition Council (NNC), during a Stakeholder’s forum recently, expressed its hopes that the newly-elected government officials will strictly impose the salt iodization in their localities.

At the said forum in Cebu Grand Hotel, NNC-7 head, Dr. Parolita Mission, said their goal is to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in 2016, and they can only achieve it through the help of the local government leaders.

“We are encouraging our local leaders to make a move, and include in their agenda the salt iodization program to reduce IDD cases,” Mission said.

Mission said each day of delay at least 300 mothers die in childbirth due to iron deficiency, while 4,000 children die from the effects of vitamin A deficiency and 50,000 infants are born with reduced mental capacity due to IDD. She said they have so far reduced IDD cases from 2005 to 2008, since the salt iodization was implemented all over the country.