The prevalence rate of iodine deficiency is 7.3 per cent in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
UT Director Health and Family Welfare, Dr VK Gagneja on Wednesday said that iodine deficiency as presented by “Goitre” has a prevalence rate of 7.3 per cent in Chandigarh, which marks the area with high incidence of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).The prevalence rate of iodine deficiency was 14.2 percent in 2009 in Chandigarh, which labeled the area as endemic for these disorders.
“Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Month” was observed under the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme of UT Chandigarh at Auditorium of MCH, Sector-22 here on Wednesday.
Dr VK Gagneja said, “At national level, more than 200 million people are at risk of IDD while the number of persons suffering from Goiter is above 70 million. Approximately 2.2 million children are born cretins (child born with physical and mental retardation) and 6.6 million have some kind of neurological deficit.”
He said that the awareness campaign regarding IDD shall continue for one month. Dr Gagneja also appreciated the efforts carried out by the UT Health Department and hoped that prevalence rate of IDD falls below 5 percent – the target set by Government of India.