Experts urge greater awareness to promote iodised salt use

FE Team | Published: October 21, 2024 22:03:29

A farmer working at a salt pan

World Iodine Day 2024 was observed in the country and around the globe on Monday to raise public awareness about iodine deficiency, a significant public health issue, says a statement.
To mark the day, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), in collaboration with development partners Nutrition International (NI) and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), organised a discussion at the BSCIC Building in Dhaka.
Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Khan, Chairman of BSCIC, was present as the chief guest while Md Ahsan Kabir, Director (Industrial Promotion & Extension) of BSCIC, presided over the event.
Md. Kamal Uddin Biswas, Director (Finance); Shamoly Nabi, Director (Administration); Kazi Mahbubur Roshid, Director (Skills & Technology); Md Abdul Matin, Director (Engineering & Project Implementation); and Khondoker Md. Mushfiqur Rahman, Director (Marketing, Design & Crafts); were present as special guests.
The session was also attended by Saiqa Siraj, Country Director of NI, Dr. Rudaba Khondker, Country Director of GAIN.
Professor Syeda Afrose Jahan Mousumi gave an informative presentation on the importance of iodine.
Iodine is an essential micronutrient. It is crucial for normal physical and mental growth. Among the nutrient deficiency-related problems in Bangladesh, iodine deficiency remains significant.
Lack of iodine causes issues like goiter, cognitive impairments, dwarfism, premature miscarriages, and physical and mental disabilities.
Before the 1990s, iodine deficiency was a severe problem in Bangladesh. Since 1990, under the Ministry of Industries, BSCIC has been managing a programme to produce universal iodised salt to address iodine deficiency.
As part of this programme, BSCIC registers salt mills, supplies potassium iodate to the mills, controls the quality of iodised salt, provides technical assistance, monitors salt mills and markets, and conducts awareness campaigns about iodized salt usage.
Due to these efforts, currently, 76 per cent of households use iodized salt, and visible goiter has been eradicated.
In the early stages of iodized salt production in 1993, the iodine deficiency rate was 68.9 per cent. Thanks to the efforts of BSCIC, this rate fell to 24.6 per cent by 2019-20, and it has since decreased even further.
Speakers at the discussion emphasised the importance of increasing awareness to encourage more people to use iodized salt.