Campaign to highlight importance of iodized salt begins

By Our Staff Reporter

KARACHI- A campaign aimed at promoting iodized salt to help prevent people from iodine deficiency has been launched in the city.

This was stated by Director Health Karachi, Dr Zafar Ejaz while speaking a seminar held here under the joint auspices of the city’s directorate of health, KMC food and quality control department and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  

He said that during the campaign strict action will also be taken against salt processors, hotels and shopkeepers who are not using iodized salt.

“Iodization of salt is the most inexpensive way of preventing iodine deficiency disorders,” he said, adding that iodine deficiency was causing complications among children, pregnant women and elderly people.

Claiming that the ratio of consumption of iodine salt in the metropolis during last one decade has increased from 17 per cent to 70pc, he said that consumption of iodine salt not only helps in improving human intelligence, but also provide an easy solution to mental disorders.

At the outset, Dr Zafar deplored that although Sindh Assembly had enacted a law, called Sindh Compulsory Iodization of Salt Act 2013, it was not being implemented in letter and spirit.