DEPARTMENT of Health in collaboration with international development
partners is committed to eliminating iodine deficiency disorders in
Punjab through Universal Salt Iodization (USI) Programme.
“The IDD/USI project is playing an important role in the elimination
of iodine deficiency disorders,” Dr Tanwir Ahmad, director general,
Health Services Punjab, said this while addressing the IDD/USI programme
review meeting held at DG Health Punjab office on Thursday.
Executive district officers, health and district focal persons IDD/USI from 20 districts of Punjab participated in the meeting.
He stressed upon more efforts from EDOs/DFPs to consolidate the
achievements and directed them to strengthen the monitoring and
enforcement mechanisms so that adequate iodization of edible salt at
production level might be ensured on sustained basis.
Dr Muhammad Jameel, director, Health Services, said that this review
was important as it would provide an insight into the achievements of
high performing districts. At the same time, he said, it would be
beneficial for those districts that were lagging behind and they would
learn new ideas for improvement.
Dr Tausif Akhtar Janjua, country director, Micronutrient Initiative
(MI) Pakistan, stressed upon the commitment from the participants to
sustain and consolidate achievements shown in National Nutrition Survey
(NNS) 2011 which indicated that 79 percent people in Punjab province
were consuming iodized salt as compared to only 17 percent in 2001.
Dr Khawaja Masuood Ahmed, NPM IDD/USI programme from MI Pakistan,
shared that Pakistan was among those countries where IDD was still a
public health problem and research proved that iodine deficiency was the
major cause of mental impairment, brain damage and 13-15 percent low IQ
in growing children. Dr Mahmood Ahmad, programme manager, F & N
Punjab, said district level by-laws notification on USI by DCOs of all
36 districts helped to improve and sustain the edible salt iodization.
He stressed on effective monitoring and strong enforcement.
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