To check iodine deficiency in children and also in expectant mothers, Punjab Government launched a massive campaign to identify iodine deficient children under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP), besides establishing Iodine Deficiency Disorder Cell (IDD) and IDD laboratories in the State.
Under the NIDDCP, all the districts of the state would be covered in a phased manner, announced Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani on Wednesday.He said that total 17 districts were surveyed under the ongoing programme. During 2013-14, IDD survey in four districts — Mansa, Barnala, Moga and Ferozepur including Fazilka — had been conducted.
“Extensive laboratory tests are being conducted on children as well as pregnant women to diagnose iodine deficiency in children. As many as 12,219 urine samples of the children between the age group of six to 12 years were collected by state health authorities and 19,815 salt samples were also tested by the state IDD labs. Results of the urine samples have been sent to the districts and recommended further treatment where iodine deficiency was diagnosed in children,” he said.
Jayani has asked all the Food Inspectors to strictly check the sale of non-iodized edible salt that is already banned by the Centre. He has also directed them to focus their campaign to rural as well as urban areas including slums, hutment areas and areas where migrant and gypsy population were residing.Directing the Civil Surgeons to organize sensitization camps in colonies to educate the people regarding the importance of iodine, Jayani asked to distribute literature regarding this to the expectant mothers. They were also told to involve ANMs and health visitors in this educative campaign.
Minister said that the target group was children between the age group of six to 12 years. Besides, the expectant mothers would also be tested for iodine deficiency as it often led to decreased availability of iodine to the fetus which could be fatal and lead to permanent damage to intellectual growth in later years.
Minister asked the district health officers to constantly monitor the tests being conducted in the hi-tech established laboratories and share investigations with the officers concerned so that adequate steps be taken at higher level to check the iodine deficiency and further treatment could be initiated.