June Network E-Bulletin

World Health Assembly resolution calls for strengthening efforts to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders globally.  16-25 May 2005, Geneva , Switzerland

The 58 th World Health Assembly (WHA), the supreme decision-making body for the World Health Organization (WHO) was held between 16-25 May. More than 2200 people from WHO's 192 Member States, nongovernmental organizations and other observers attended the meeting. The IDD Network was represented at the WHA by both Jack Ling of ICCIDD and Bruno DeBenoist of WHO.

The World Health Assembly has taken note that iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is a leading cause of brain damage in childhood, and is calling for renewed efforts to eradicate the problem in the Member States with a high incidence of iodine deficiency. A lack of iodine intake during pregnancy and early childhood results in impaired cognitive and motor development in young children. WHO estimates 2 billion people are at risk of becoming iodine deficient. The solution to IDD is simple and cost-effective as iodine can easily be added to table salt. A resolution has been accepted which urges a renewed cooperative effort to eliminate IDD.

This resolution calls on WHO to redouble its efforts to eliminate IDD through Universal Salt Iodization, to strengthen cooperation with international agencies, and urges Member States to take action on an urgent basis to strengthen or introduce salt iodization in the 54 remaining affected countries, focusing on the poorest and economically disadvantaged groups.

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World Food Program's Salt Assessment Mission in Haiti

 MI staff and consultants undertook a mission to Haiti on behalf of WFP Haiti under the program " Feasibility and Cost-effectiveness of Temporary Iodized Salt Distribution and Local Food Fortification in Haiti " in April 2005. Salt iodization has never been fully implemented in Haiti despite the efforts of international agencies. In 2004, as a result of hurricane Jeanne, the salt industry located in Gonaives was badly damaged by flooding. Thus the purposes of the mission included the evaluation and assessment of salt production and explored options for cost-effective distribution modalities for donated iodized salt to Haiti .

Mission findings regarding the difficulties facing successful salt iodization in Haiti include:

•  Insufficient salt production

•  Little evidence of reconstruction efforts or coordinated action plan

•  Salt quality is not feasible for fortification

•  Inadequate production facilities and insufficient salt processing capacity with and distant iodization facilities

•  Uncoordinated and usually unisectoral approach to salt fortification, with no significant private sector involvement

•  No evidence of demand for technological improvement

•  Distrust of foreign interventions

•  Lack of demand for iodized salt

•  No legislation or monitoring and enforcement capacity

Specific recommendations to develop a double track of interventions addressing salt production as well as iodization capacity are being considered by WFP, which is resolved to play a major role in bringing together the different stake holders in salt production, iodization and commercialization in Haiti and thus improve the effectiveness of international cooperation in this area.

Chernobyl : Iodine Deficiency Played a Crucial Role in Link to Thyroid Cancer

 A number of ICCIDD officials have been associated with on-going research and investigation into the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in April 1986 over the years.  An important article was published on May 18 by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that discovered links between exposure to radioactive iodine after the Chernobyl accident and thyroid cancer in children: A 90-fold increase was found 5-10 years after the accident in contaminated areas.

The study concluded that exposure to 131 I in childhood is associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer. Both iodine deficiency and iodine supplementation appear to modify the risk. These results have important public health implications: stable iodine supplementation in iodine-deficient populations may substantially reduce the risk of thyroid cancer related to radioactive iodine in case of exposure to radioactive iodine in childhood that may occur after radiation accidents or during medical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

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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 atinfo@iodinenetwork.net