On December 16, 2006, Donald G. McNeil, Jr. of the New York Times, reporting from Astana, Kazakhstan in Central Asia, told the world about Valentina Sivryukova, president of the national confederation of Kazakh charities, and her key role in creating the public service messages to promote iodized salt. An overheard exchange when one Kazakh schoolboy called another stupid. “What are you,” he sneered, “iodine-deficient or something?” meant her years invested in raising public awareness that iodized salt prevents brain damage in infants had paid dividends. In fact, McNeil reported: "Kazakhstan has become an example of how even a vast and still-developing nation like this Central Asian country can achieve a remarkable public health success. In 1999, only 29 percent of its households were using iodized salt. Now 94 percent are. Next year, the United Nations is expected to certify it officially free of iodine deficiency disorders."
In fact, YOU could make a difference, just like Valentina Sivryukova. Your invovlement can make a difference. And you'd be joining a committed team advancing a scientifically-solid health intervention that can make a real difference in your community. Would raising I.Q. 10-15 points make a difference? You bet! A strong consensus in science (iodine deficiency = mental impairment) and technology (iodizing salt is easy, effective and inexpensive) is an excellent foundation, but overcoming the tragedy of iodine deficiency disorders requires individual and community commitment. You can make a difference.
If your country has yet to achieve universal salt iodization, find out from your ICCIDD coordinator what challenges and opportunities exist for you to lend your time and talents to overcoming IDD. And if your country has achieved USI, find out how you might help share that success with those still struggling.
Read some of the recent issues of our newsletter, IDD Newsletter, to get a feel for the challenging we're surmounting. Then let us know how you'd be willing to help. If you have specific questions for any ICCIDD leader, let us know. To give you some sense of the types of organizations already enlisted in the battle against IDD, The Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency maintains a good list of potential partners.
