Pakistani voices in rising demand for action against IDD

Freelance journalist Anees Jallani explains:

Millions of Pakistanis, particularly those living in the mountainous areas, suffer from iodine deficiency disorder (IDD). In fact, some of these areas are classified as one of the most endemic areas in the world. IDD, however, is also common in other parts of the country, including the Punjab, and is a major cause of impaired intellectual development. Its consequences may include goiter, hypothyroidism, cretinism, reproductive failure, and childhood mortality. Animals and agriculture also get affected in the same way as humans do. In areas with iodine deficiency, reductions of IQ in schoolchildren by an average of 10 percent have been demonstrated. Diminished availability to nervous tissue of the thyroid hormone because of limited iodine supply prevents the brain from developing normally in infancy and young childhood.

It is a direct consequence of poor iodine contents in the environment. People who eat food and drink water from iodine deficient environments are more likely to ingest inadequate amounts of iodine and thus may develop IDD. The probability of iodine deficiency intake expands to other areas when food products from iodine deficient areas are shared with the other regions. Additionally, intensive agricultural production sometimes can deplete the soil of iodine in previously borderline areas.

IDD is not only a severe symptom of underdevelopment but also its fundamental cause. It is ironic that this disorder which afflicts millions of Pakistanis can be corrected through inexpensive and safe methods. It can be done quickly and the elimination of IDD will mean that millions of children will no longer need to suffer from poor mental and physical growth, drop out of school early and grow up to be adults without a prospect of finding a job. Iodized common salt is being used in many countries now for more than 75 years to eliminate IDD. It has proven to be cheap, safe and effective; and is the most effective method of delivering the appropriate amounts of iodine to the masses on a daily basis at acceptable prices, at assured quality, and over a sustained period of time.

Despite this, Pakistan continues to fail to resolve this problem by iodizing the salt on a mass scale. A review of all the laws of Pakistan, including its Constitution, reveals that a major legislation on this subject of iodization of salt remains to be introduced, either at the federal or the provincial levels. There is no national law, and no provision of law whatsoever covering this aspect either in relation to the Islamabad Capital Territory or the Cantonments that directly come under the jurisdiction of the federal government. FATA and the Federally Administered Northern Areas also remain without such a law.