July Network E-Bulletin

Update from the China National Salt Industry Corporation Asian Salt Forum (ASF)

China National Salt Industry Corporation (CNSIC) plans to host Asian Salt Forum in October 18-23, 2005 in Beijing . The purpose of the event is to strengthen exchanges and to promote development of salt industry in Asia .

The theme of ASF will be Unity, Cooperation, Development and Common Prosperity. The agenda of the meeting will be:

•  Asian salt market and its development trends;

•  The application and development of new production techniques and technologies; development of new products and application of new equipments for salt and salt-chemical industry in Asia ;

•  How to push ahead with edible salt iodization and elimination of IDD in Asia ;

•  Proposal to establish an Asian Salt Association.

The ASF invites participants from salt producers and distributors, iodine producers, major chemical producers and related agencies; international development organizations and government representatives.

For further information about the ASF, please contact Department of International Cooperation of China National Salt Industry Corporation by chinasalt@vip.sina.com .

Celebration of "National IDD Elimination" Day in Lhasa

This year the Chinese government celebrated the "12 th National IDD elimination Day". Central government and committees such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, National Development and Research Committee together with CNSIC jointly issued " A Note on 12 th National IDD Elimination Day" with a theme of "Controlling IDD for Maternal and Children Health". The celebrations were held in Gansu and Lhasa .

The activities in Lhasa included an Evening Event called "Every Drop Reflects Love", a Symposium on "Retail Network Construction and IDD Elimination in Tibet " and a field visit.

The Evening Event was broadcasted nationwide on May 15. Government Leaders, UNICEF, Professional Association and nearly one hundred representatives of 33 salt companies participated in the Event. During the event, Director of TAR Government, Mr. Hao Peng, delivered an ardent welcome speech; Deputy Chair of China Endemic Association, Mr. Chen Jixiang, introduced IDD from the view of an expert; Deputy Director of NDRC, Mr. Ma Zhanping, giving an important speech; Director of UNICF, Mr. Koen, talked about his opinion on IDD elimination in Tibet: General Manager of CNSIC, Mr. Mao Qingguo, donated 3,160,000 to Tibet Salt Company on behalf of China salt industry and made a solemn commitment to further support to IDD elimination in Tibet.

In a word, the activities exerted positive influence on the sustainable IDD elimination drive in Tibet and west China in a whole.

•  ICCIDD Update

Current Activities

The National Authorities in Mali have requested a review and technical advisory mission from ICCIDD. The Sub Regional Coordinator is currently in the country for this purpose.  Dr. Theo Ntambwe is the ICCIDD leader for this work and a report will be issued and shared in due course.

In West Africa , ICCIDD, in collaboration with WAHO and other partners, is supporting an advisory team of consultants to the West African Meeting on USI in Mali to sort out questions of legal requirement needs for international trade in iodized salt and to draft norms for such legislation.  Dr. Dan Lantum leads this undertaking.

ICCIDD, in collaboration with UNICEF, has drafted a working paper for use in the latest negotiations with the authorities in Russia on the need for a law and supporting regulations for mandatory iodization of salt for human and animal consumption.  Dr. Gregory Gerasimov is acting for ICCIDD on this issue, supported by the Executive Director.

Future Plans

The China Salt Association plans a regional salt producer meeting 18-23 October, 2005 with the objective of re-enforcing efforts for Universal Salt Iodization in each East Asian country and to form a Regional Salt Association to support sustained efforts.  UNICEF is collaborating with this venture and ICCIDD is seeking ways to be supportive and helpful to industry. Chair Jack Ling is a focal point in ICCIDD for this new undertaking, along with Dr. Chen, the Regional Coordinator, and supported by the Executive Director.

ICCIDD will have two officials present at the Regional Committee Meeting of WHO in Europe in Bucharest in September 12-15, 2005 . Dr. G Gerasimov and Dr. M Zimmmerman will attend and represent ICCIDD.

The Next ICCIDD Annual Board Meeting will be held in New Delhi , India , from the 21-22 of April, 2006. The Board Meeting will be preceded by a one day Advocacy Event (April 20 th ) to be planned in conjunction with the Government of India and with strong support from UNICEF. The National Association of Salt Producers will also hold their national meetings in New Delhi on 23 and 24 April and some ICCIDD Board Members will attend. This could then represent an opportunity for the Network to raise its profile in sponsoring or participating in these events.

•  Kiwanis: IDD Field Visit in Kenya

A Kiwanis and Key Club delegation visited Kenya on June 5 -12, to review Kiwanis' investment of almost a million dollar in IDD elimination in the country and to evaluate the "Kicking HIV/AID's Out of Kenya" project. The HIV/AID's project will receive funding from the Key Club Trick or Treat for UNICEF.

Through the Kiwanis grant the following activities were supported in Kenya :

•  Field level activities including meetings with partners and stakeholders, a meeting for the national micronutrient deficiency council resulting in drafting of policy guidelines on micronutrients.

•  Research including national surveys on urinary iodine, iodine levels in salt factory, wholesaler, retailer and household.

•  Meetings and capacity building activities for counterparts, including technical support from UNICEF (salt producers, MOH, scouts, KEBS (Kenya Bureau of Standards) ), ongoing monitoring activities especially in the "at risks districts".

•  Development and production of advocacy and IEC materials. Screening of mobile cinema, community level advocacy and social mobilization activities.

•  Supplies to support research at all levels, monitoring activities, training, development of monitoring tools.

•  National dissemination workshop for the 1999 Micronutrients survey and distribution of the reports to all districts and key stakeholders.

•  Development of IEC micronutrient materials including of iodized salt monitoring tools at national level.

•  Partial funding to Kenya Association of scouts on IDD day (advocacy with youth).

While Kenya has made important progress, the Mission suggested that there is need to focus efforts on two key areas of weakness:

•  Inconsistency in levels of salt iodization . Funds and resources are needed to

facilitate monitoring of iodine levels in salt at all levels. Quality control at

production, monitoring quality assurance throughout the supply chain.

•  Continuing IDD . Pockets of continuing low consumption of iodized sale, especially in North Eastern Province . In-depth qualitative research is needed in communities where IDD is still a public health problem.

The Mission concluded that:

•  The almost million dollars we've invested in Kenya for education and awareness of using iodized salt has been a good investment. 91 % of the households now use iodized salt.

•  Partnering with UNICEF was a good decision. They are in the countries we are working in and know the country, the people and provide the necessary monitoring of the project.

•  Sustaining the program is essential. Raising funds for the endowment in our International Foundation is important, worthwhile, and necessary.

•  Continual monitoring is very important.

•  Whatever we can do to help Key Club with their Trick or Treat campaign, we should do. It is a very worthwhile project that will change lives and give our Key Clubbers a very worthwhile project.

The Ministry of Public Health, with support of UNICEF, has started a nationwide campaign to encourage the use of iodized salt as the simplest, cheapest and most sustainable method of introducing iodine into the diet. The campaign had officially started in April 2005 with a press conference in Kabul by Public Health Minister Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatimi.

The campaign -- using the message "For a healthy, happy nation, use iodized salt every day" -- used radio and television advertising, posters and banners, and point-of-sale information leaflets.

Recent surveys indicate that less than one-third of Afghan households use iodized salt. Seventy percent of school-age children in Afghanistan are iodine-deficient. Ten iodized salt factories, established in 2003, have the capacity to meet the population's requirement of iodized salt. The new campaign aims to increase demand from households (Source: Park Tribune, April 21, 2005 ).

Iodized salt is back in all kitchens. The union health ministry re-introduced a nationwide ban on the production and sale of non-iodized salt. The decision was prompted by the nationwide fall in iodized salt consumption since a similar ban was lifted in 2000 under pressure from salt manufacturers in Gujarat . "It's ridiculous. Countries such as Bhutan have 95 per cent iodized salt consumption and states such as UP have 10 per cent," said a health ministry official.

Fortifying salt with iodine is the cheapest and most effective means of increasing the dietary intake of this essential mineral. The National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program's policy guidelines clearly state that "eating iodized salt is the best and simplest way to prevent and control iodine deficiency disorders" (Source: Times of India, April 28, 2005 ).

The Network Network E-Bulletin is prepared by the Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency and posted on its website, www.iodinenetwork.net . If you have any information to share or queries please contact Dr. Juliawati Untoro , IDD Network Secretary at info@iodinenetwork.net