ARMENIA BEATS IODINE DEFICIENCY
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 17 2006
A coalition of four organizations working together to address
iodine deficiency disorders throughout the world, has recognized
the elimination of iodine deficiency in Armenia through universal
salt iodization.
In a ceremony held today to mark this achievement, the UNICEF
Representative in Armenia, Sheldon Yett, presented a plaque to the
Ministry of Health of Armenia, which recognizes the Government
of Armenia’s success in its long standing campaign to eliminate
iodine deficiency disorders as a public health problem. The plaque
was presented on behalf of the Network for Sustained Elimination of
Iodine Deficiency, the International Council for Control of Iodine
Deficiency Disorders, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
"Elimination of iodine deficiency in Armenia is a remarkable
achievement and represents a significant contribution to the protection
and improvement of health and well-being of children in this country,"
the UNICEF Representative in Armenia emphasized. He added that "some
20 million children in developing countries are affected by iodine
deficiency each year and every single case can be prevented with the
use of iodized salt."
Iodine deficiency is the world’s leading cause of preventable
mental retardation among children. While the worst cases of iodine
deficiency can cause severe mental retardation, such as cretinism,
even mild iodine deficiency can result in a significant loss in
learning ability. Other effects include increased risk of stillbirth,
miscarriage, and goiter for women and learning difficulties for
children. Salt iodization is the most effective and sustainable way
to prevent iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) because salt is widely
consumed and iodization is safe and inexpensive. Eliminating IDD
through the promotion of the use of iodized salt is a key component
of UNICEF’s mission to ensure that every child has the opportunity
to survive, develop and achieve his/her developmental potential.
In 1995, the Ministry of Health jointly with UNICEF, conducted a
study which indicated that over 50% of pregnant women were suffering
from iodine deficiency. Since 1997 UNICEF, the Ministry of Health,
and the Avan Salt Factory have been working together to eliminate
iodine deficiency in Armenia through universal salt iodization. The
efforts were funded in part through contributions from the US Agency
for International Development (USAID).
"Ministry of Health attaches great importance to the issue of iodine
deficiency in Armenia and is taking steps to ensure the sustainability
of the Universal Salt Iodization in Armenia," Minister of Health
Norayr Davidyan said.
A nationally representative survey of school children carried out last
year by UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and the International Council
for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) found that
the proportion of households consuming adequately iodized salt has
increased to 97% from 70% in 1998. The 2005 survey also found that
urinary concentrations of iodine were sufficiently high.
"The achievement of universal salt iodization means that 40,000
children born in Armenia each year are now being protected from the
consequences of iodine deficiency," the UNICEF Representative said.
As the survey noted, strengthened monitoring and regulatory systems are
now required to sustain this achievement," the Representative added.