China's 11-year-old plan to eradicate iodine deficiency
disorders by 2000 remains frustrated by chronic shortages of the
indispensable element in some areas, health authorities said at a
recent meeting.
The government launched a program in 1993 to eliminate iodine
deficiency throughout the country by 2000. It has not yet been
successful, as four provinces, two autonomous regions and one
municipality failed to reach the goal, said Liu Jiayi, a disease
control official with the Ministry of Health.
Liu characterized the seven areas that have yet to stamp out the
problem -- Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Gansu, Hainan and
Chongqing -- as being located in remote sections of the
country.
China has reset its goal, planning to provide enough of the
element to everyone in the iodine-deficient areas within five
years.
Around 100 million people in China, or some 8 percent of the
population, suffer from a deficiency of the element. Prenatal
iodine deficiency leads to two million infants being born each year
with irreversible mental disabilities.
It is generally believed that iodized salt provides the most
economical and effective way of distributing iodine. But high
shipping costs have hindered the distribution of iodized salt in
remote areas, said Lin Jiahua, deputy general manager of the China
National Salt Industry Corporation.
Unlawful production and smuggling of uniodized salt is rampant
as a result of the underdeveloped legitimate distribution
network.
Health education is also necessary to promote the use of iodized
salt, Lin said, as people in some areas are accustomed to crude
salt and might not use iodized salt even if it is available.
According to the International Council for the Control of Iodine
Deficiency Disorder, iodine deficiency is the single most common
cause of preventable mental retardation and brain damage in the
world. It also causes goiters and impairs growth and development.
Iodine deficiency in pregnant women causes miscarriages,
stillbirths and other complications. Children with IDD can grow up
stunted, apathetic, mentally retarded and incapable of normal
movements, speech or hearing.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn July 28, 2004)