Population

Population:   71.931 millions
Population annual growth rate:  2.0%
Population < 18 years:  29.856 million s; <5 yrs: 8.702 million s
Crude birth rate:   27 per 1000
Life expectancy at birth:  69 years



Current Iodine Nutrition Situation

Total goiter rate (1995): 21.4%.

Median urinary iodine concentration (1998): 148 µ g/L.

Endemic goiter has been reported in the New Valley oases of Kharga, Dakhla, Baris and Balug in the southwest Egyptian desert. Among the general population in these oases, 26% were found to have visible thyroid enlargements (IDD Newsletter 15:30, 1999). National study in 1992 found 9 of country's 22 governorates had prevalence greater than 5%. Study by High Institute of Public Health 1993-1995 showed following goitre prevalence and UI's in 3 problem governorates: New Valley, 82%, 89 µg/L; Aswan, 17%, 108 µg/L; Kafr El Sheikh, 27%, 151 µg/L.

Household consumed adequately iodized salt 1 : 56%.

A recent study in 2004 showed an increase of utilization of iodized salt to 79%.

Salt Situation Analysis

The primary salt production (yearly raw salt production) in Egypt varies between 3 to 3.3 million tons of raw unwashed salt which can be used for iodized salt processing according to the designed capacity of the various salt processing industry. Therefore we can consider Egypt as self saturated of raw salt production. The raw salt production has doubled since year 2000 estimate. This clearly indicates increased in production of traditional salt (Sayaha salt).

The traditional Salt producers (Sayaha salt farms) in Egypt have to consider the issue of IDD and follow the appropriate governmental regulations concerning salt production for instance, forming cooperation and, following the appropriate methods of iodization. This will require joint efforts of the governments, UNICEF and other UN agencies to promote advocacy and social marketing campaign to address the problem and educate the owners and producers the bene?ts for health and economy of iodizing salt.

Universal Salt Iodization Program

Legislation

Legislation has been enacted in 1996 to bans production and distribution of non-iodized salt for edible purposes (human consumption). However, t he legislation is not actively implemented because both iodized and non-iodized salt coexist legally. 

A decree by the Minister of Supply in February 2003 required that only iodized salt be used in the market and for baking bread at the national level. 3

National Coalition

Major activities for the control program include forming a national IDD control committee, identifying an IDD control officer, adopting iodized salt as the strategy, monitoring and evaluation, and screening for transient neonatal hypothyroidism by TSH; the last mentioned started in 2001 in five governorates, with plans for coverage in all governorates within two years.  Salt iodization with potassium iodate at 30-70 ppm began in 1996 with the national salt company, reaching the private sector in 2001. 



Other Interventions

Iodized oil capsules (Oriodol) was given to all women of childbearing age and to all children 0-17 years in New Valley Governorate, as temporary measure until USI.


Key Lessons Learned and Challenges - No Data available

Future Plans for Sustained IDD Elimination

With support from the Regional Office of UNICEF in Amman, UNICEF Cairo is seeking to place a national officer in the office for full time duty to work with salt companies.

UNICEF Cairo with support and collaboration of the Regional Office and with collaboration with ICCIDD Regional Coordinator will undertake a base line survey later this year.  The arrangements are now under negotiation.

References:

•  UNICEF. The State of the World's Children.2005.

•  IDD NL 21(1):9, 2005

•  IDD NL 20(1):5, 2004

•  Azizi F. Reports from the Regions and the Countries by ICCIDD Regional Coordinators. 6. Middle Eastern and North African Region in Towards the Global Elimination of Brain Damage Due to Iodine Deficiency. Oxford University Press, 2004.

•  IDD NL 15(2):30, 1999

•  IDD NL 13(2):20, 1997