In 2002 the United Nations General Assembly, comprising all Member States of the UN, held a Special Session on Children which was an historic milestone in matching political commitment to improved services for child survival, development and protection. ICCIDD attended the meeting and was instrumental in pressing for the inclusion of elimination of IDD as one of the goals of the UNGASS. It appeared in the outcome document almost without change and has been used to promote USI and IDD Elimination ever since.
UNGASS II was held in the UN December 10-12 2007 and the Member States reviewed progress on their commitments to children. 141 Member States spoke at the GA itself and many of them spoke as well in the Fora and Discussion Groups supplementing the General Assembly gathering. ICCIDD was asked to be lead agency for the Network for the Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency to prepare and execute a Side Event on IDD Elimination. The Side Event attracted attendance from Member States (15 attended), Donor Agencies, Civil Society, Press, and UN Agencies.
Dr. Gerard N Burrow, Chair of ICCIDD presided and outlined the significant progress, the significant support to the effort by the scientific communities in Member States and globally. Mr. Alan Court, Chair of the Network, outlined the significant progress on USI and IDD Elimination over the past decade and stressed the huge challenges still remaining. Mr. Richard Hanneman, President of the Salt Institute stressed the need for collaborate effort of government, civil society, producers and processors so that nationally the forces combine for the national goal of Universal Salt Iodization. UNICEF deputy executive director Kul Gautam delivered a stirring closing charge to delegates to devise new strategies to reach "the needy and vulnerable" among the 30% who still lack access to iodized salt.
The meeting heard that 34 countries have attained US, with at least 90 % of households consuming adequately iodized salt. 60 countries have increased household consumption of adequately iodized salt by at least 20% during the past decade.. As of 2005, 120 countries had salt iodization programmes, compared with 90 countries in 2000.
The event generated global news coverage, reinvigorating national coalitions, particularly in the 14 countries identified for priority action. Representative news stories included the following:
- Iodized salt reaches 70 percent of world households, up from 20 percent in early 1990s, International Herald Tribune
- Experts urge complete global access to iodized salt; prevents IQ loss and brain damage in babies, Physorg.com
- India, Pakistan among countries with worst iodine deficiency, Economic Times/Indiatimes
- Prevent IQ loss and brain damage: use iodized salt!, www.composedgentleman.net
- Iodized salt reaches 70 percent of world households, Daily News Egypt
- Experts Urge Complete Global Access to Iodized Salt for IQ Loss and Brain Damage Prevention in Babies, NutritionHorizons.com
