Prof V.Ramlingaswami surveyed the Kangra district in Himachal pradesh
during the period, 1956-1972, Wherein 1 lack school children were surveyed.
Intervention was planned and the area was distributed in zones. Zone A
was supplied with ordinary salt. Zone B received salt + patassium iodidate.
The results showed that the goitre rate dropped from 40 % in 1956 to 19%
in 1962, in zone B.
This study is well known as Kangra Valley study. Government of India
realised the magnitude of the problem and launched a 100% Centrally Sponsored
Programme called National Goitrte Control Programme in 1962. In August
1992 this programme was renamed as National Iodine Deficiency Disorders
Control Programme with a view to conver the wide spectrum of Iodine Deficiency
Disorders like mental and physical retardation, Deaf- mutism, cretinism,
still births, abortions.
International focus on elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders reflected
in passing resolutions in world summit for children held at NewYork in
September 1990, 43 rd world health assembly held at Geneva in may 1990,
SAARC conference on children of South Asia held at Colombo in Sept,1992.
India as a signatory to these resolutions reiterated its commitment to
eliminate IDD.
Now, from 2 lacs tonnes of annual production, more than 40 lacs of annual production
has been achieved. India is second largest manufacturer of Iodized Salt in
the world after China. Presently 4.00 million tones of Iodized Salt in produced.
In last 50 years many countries in North America, Asia, Europe have eliminated
IDD with Salt Iodization. For example, cretinism, Goitre have been eliminated
in Switzerland due to salt Iodization since 1922.
As per WHO estimate about 30 % of world population is reported to have
IDD.
As a Public Health Problem IDD is reported from 110 countries which account
for 46% world population.
Elimination of IDD from the world is receiving highest priority from
WHO, which is a reflected in the subject selected for discussion at 97
th session of the executive board and 49 th world health assembly held
in may 1996. In 1995, a inter country conference was organized by international
council for control of IDD, UNICEF, Canadian international Development,
micronutrient agency Govt. of Bangladesh at Dhaka. The main theme of this
meeting was commitment to the goal of eliminating IDD.
There are series of declarations at the following events
International Conference on Nutrition, Rome in
1992.
Rawalpindi resolution on children of South Asia
at
" Third SAARC ministerial Conference on children of South
Asia.
So, lastly to sum up the IDD has a solid historical background for
commitment to eliminate IDD.
