KARACHI, July 12: Poor awareness about Iodine Deficiency Disorders is apprehended to contribute to mental retardation besides other serious health ailments, among children.

Over 50 per cent of the population in Pakistan is currently estimated to be at risk of IDD which is feared to turn the scenario as a major public health disaster.

Globally more than two billion people worldwide are at risk of IDD and above 400 million are believed to be intellectually impaired, 740 million people suffer from goitre, thousands are either still born or born as cretins.

Over the last decade, considerable progress has been made in controlling various micronutrient deficiencies. In case of IDD, the strategy of universal salt iodisation is considered major breakthrough as it is effective and relatively easy.

While a number of countries have successfully achieved over 60 per cent coverage of iodised salt in the region, including Bangladesh, India and China, Pakistan despite registering certain progress, following launching of a national salt iodization initiative in 1994, is yet to achieve the desired results.

The coverage over the years has increased from four per cent to above 20 per cent. Evaluation of IDD programme in the country between 1996 and 2001 has also revealed that awareness about health consequences of IDD in the public as well as stakeholders is very poor.—APP