Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 21, 2005
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Friday, Oct 21, 2005 |
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Tamil Nadu
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Chennai
Ramya Kannan
CHENNAI: In its stepped-up campaign to combat the problem of iodine deficiency disorders in the State, the Government has identified the salt testing component in schools as a key agent of change. The Salt Testing campaign, to kick off on October 24, will come just days after Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Prevention Day on October 21. As part of this campaign conducted along with the Education and Rural Development departments, all government schools (up to the elementary level) in each district will choose a convenient day for salt testing. On this day, all children are required to bring from home one teaspoonful of salt to school and these samples are tested for enough content of iodine. The results are then explained to the children, who have already been oriented on IDD. The results of the testing are then compiled and conveyed to the block officer, who forwards the data to district authorities, from where it is sent to the Director of Education and UNICEF which is supporting the programme. In the first phase of the School Salt Testing Campaign between September 2004 and February 2005, 25,000 schools were covered. Over four million students and 90,000 teachers took part. Data (released by the Education Department) revealed that the State's average of iodised salt consumption was 53 per cent and that there was enough salt iodisation in 26 districts (15 ppm). The technical officer, National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme, Dr. J. Stanley Michael, said that using adequately iodised salt could increase the Intelligence Quotient by over 13 points. The other IDDs among children included irreversible brain damage, deaf-mutism, dwarfism and severely depleted levels of productivity, apart from the more commonly known goitre. Prakash Gurnani of UNICEF, in a presentation, pointed out that iodine was essential for optimal mental and physical development and regulation of body metabolism. By increasing the consumption of iodised salt, it was possible to improve scholastic performance, prevent frequent absenteeism, dropouts and even grade failures and repetition, he added. These and other facts will be communicated to the public during the second phase of the IDD awareness campaign to use iodised salt in households, which will be launched along with the School Salt testing programme. To match the demand that is likely to be created as a result of the IEC campaign, the State is trying to ensure the availability of iodised salt and the supply of the same at a price competitive to non-iodised salt.
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