RBATF-7 and NNC-7 Spearhead Goiter Awareness Week

As the region’s prime movers in eradicating Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD), the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force 7 (RBATF 7) and its secretariat, the National Nutrition Council Region VII will spearhead the celebration of the Goiter Awareness Week (GAW) on 22-28 January 2018 to increase awareness of the continued IDD challenge in the region.

This week-long celebration includes activities such as question and answer during flag raising of the first day of GAW celebration and wearing of any purple t-shirt and/or awareness ribbon. Such efforts aim to spread awareness about the IDD and its consequences as well as provide the public with information on how to prevent the said disorder.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) can affect any individual with inadequate intake of iodine-rich foods in the diet which can lead to a spectrum of diseases including goiter, mental disorder, physical deformities, cretinism, reproductive failure and the like. Goiter or the visible enlargement of the thyroid gland is one common manifestation among the affected populace; if one continues to take in less iodine rich foods, a domino effect of less production of thyroid hormone will also happen. Due to the proliferation of the cells in an effort to obtain more iodine, the enlargement of the thyroid gland happens.

As shown in the 8th National Nutrition Survey of the FNRI-DOST, Central Visayas had a decreasing trend of IDD with a percentage of 35.2 last 1998, 24.5% on 2008 and 14.7% on the latest survey in 2013 on the Median UIE and proportion of UIE values <50 ug/L among 6 to 12 years old. This implies that the 2017-2019 National Salt Iodization Program target in maintaining proportion of population with <50 ug/L of UIE by <20% is achieved.

According to NNC 7 Nutrition Program Coordinator, Dr. Parolita A. Mission, iodine holds a significant improvement of bodily processes, thus Dr. Mission encourages everyone to follow the 7th Kumainment which is to use iodized salt every meal because iodized salt is one of the most accessible and good source of iodine. Other examples of iodine rich foods that are available year round include: eggs, seaweeds, shellfishes and other salt water fishes, NNC 7 chief added.

According to RA 8172 or also known as ASIN Law or an Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide dictates the mandatory iodization of all salt for human and animal consumption, referring to salt that is locally produced, imported and distributed to retail. The law also aims to contribute in lessening the IDD prevalence of the country. Additionally, the Proclamation No. 1188, s. 2006, shares that the long term solution of iodine deficiency can be brought about by information dissemination, education, training, research and through preventive measures.

The National Nutrition Council invites the public to take part in said campaign, and help spread information about the disease and how to prevent it. IDD-related information can be accessed at NNC 7’s official Facebook page at Facebook. STL