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Price of a Cuppa Could Banish Third World Bane

by Gamini Seneviratoe
JIXIAN In northcast China was known as the Village of Idiots. Not any more. In 1978, 11 per cent of Its people were cretins and 65 per cent had goiters (enlarged thyroid glands), caused by Iodine deficiency in the diet.
That year, iodine added salt was Introduced. In 1979 all young women and children in J lx tan were given iodized oil injections.
’Since then", reports the UN Children's Fund, "no cretins have been born. By 1986 the goiter rate had fallen to four per cent and improved health has helped bring about a sharp rise In the village s prosperity.
Elsewhere, too, similar Interventions against the socalled Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) have shown success. But the global picture remains bleak.
IDD Include goiter, and. says the World Health Organisation (WHO), "a wide spectrum of mental and intellectual defects of varying degrees of severity. Including cretinism, paralysis and dead mutism, and can also cause stunted growth, .miscarriages, stillbirths and infant deaths. The condition is the world's leading cause‘of preventable brain damage".
Human beings need only
tiny amounts of iodine and can get this in the dally diet. Usually there Is enough In soil and water for animals and plants to take up and transfer to us.
In the valleys of mountain ranges like the Alps. Andes and the Himalayas, or in plains subject to heavy seasonal floods, however, this vital trace element ts trreplaceabiy leached out over time.
In such zones, often densely populated, if people have only locally produced food. IDD are inevitable. WHO estimates that "more than a 1.000 million people live in such environments."
Iodine deficiency is a public health problem In 95 countries. Most, but not all. are In
the developing world.
In developed countries, people are cushioned against IDD in two ways. Their food and drink come from numer ous (Iodine sufficient) places. And with the exception of Denmark (where the high consumption of fish is considered to provide adequate iodine) iodized salt Is available in the shops.
In a few, notably Switzerland, which pioneered the provision of iodine through this medium, all salt produced tn the country must be iodized, must be all salt-processed foods. Nevertheless, alpine Switzerland musl remain vigi lant and WHO says "there are still some significant pockets of IDD tn Europe'.
A workshop about to be held in Brussels will bring together 100 scientists and national health administrators to discuss "Iodine deficiency in Europe: A Continuing Concern.” The " concern' has become urgent since the event was planned.
Mounting evidence indicates a resurgence of IDD in . eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, where It was thought to be under tight control. Details of recent studies, led by Unlcef and WHO. will be revealed tn Brussels.
"What is clear”, says nutritionist Dr Elisabet Helsing, at the WHO regional office for Europe, "is that we must live with iodization. Not Just in bad times, as in the East now, but constantly, even In the West. The problem lurks Just below the surface all the time."
In the developing world it does more than work. Official estimates of iodine deficiency consequences are frightening — five million cretins, at least as many borderline cases, 35 million mentally retarded, over 200.000 stillbirths and over
100.100 neo natal deaths each year
The saddest thing.’ says the director of Unicefs regional office in Europe. Dr Samir Basta, "is that IDD is very easily eradicated.'
Iodized oil. by Injections or
capsules, can mitigate or cure the condition. Prevention Is demonstrably possible by sup plementtng items of diet, including sugar, flour and water.
Salt Is preferred because almost everybody takes some in roughly the same amounts.
Unlike with so many diseases.' says Basta, the technology Is available and proven, and It's inexpensive.”
Basil Hetzel, a former executive director of the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders, has calculated the cost at the price of a cup of tea per person per year.
Campaigns in developing countries foundered because of a lack of a conviction and commitment. Basta says.
"Things were very quiet for some years, but there has been a renewal since the second half of the 198Os."
There are IDD-control programmes in 60 countries of Asia. Africa and the Americas, with international community help.
Unlcef, WHO and others hope new evidence of the efficacy of iodine fortification and the dangers of relaxing vigilance will ginger up activities worldwide and end these preventable diseases
— Gemini News