MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Oct. 22 (PIA) --- The Department of Health’s
Regional Nutrition Committee (DOH-RNC) of the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will soon launch the Regional Bantay Asin Task
Force (RBATF) to implement and monitor the National Salt Iodization
Program of the national government.
RBATF coordinator Celia
Sagaral said a regional core team will be created to effect the
implementation of the program following positive response and support to
the health program from partner agencies in a provincial form held
recently in Zamboanga City, participated-in by RNC focal persons from
the island-provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.
“There
is a need to strengthen the awareness campaign on the prevention of
Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) through use and consumption of iodized
salt instead of our coarse salts,” Sagaral said.
Iodine, a
mineral that is an essential component of thyroid hormones is vital in
the development of the brain and central nervous system.
Iodine deficiency results to hypothyroidism or the common enlargement of the thyroid known as goiter.
In
the 2008 National Nutrition Survey by the Foods and Nutrition Research
Institute (FNRI), 19.7 percent of Filipino children fall low on Urinary
Iodine Excretion (UIE) level which is indicative of a public health
problem.
Ironically, ARMM ranks fifth in IDD despite abundance in aquamarine resources such as seaweeds and other sea foods.
“The
RBATF as supported by Republic Act 8172 known as the Asin Law will
reinforce the campaign for consumers to utilize iodize salt while
encouraging local producers to include iodine in their produce,” said
Sagaral.
Engaging government line agencies such as the
Departments of Trade and Industry, Science and Technology, Interior and
Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, Education, and
Philippine Ports Authority will enable RBATF to monitor and regulate the
local supplies.
Joining DOH-RNC in promoting iodized salt,
are the health advocates from the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF) who will provide inputs as to the qualitative advantage of
iodine-based products.
A joint RBATF assembly is expected
to formally launch and establish a fully operational task force to be
spearheaded by the regional government and the regional nutrition
council of DOH-ARMM.(Bureau of Public Information-ARMM/PIA-10)
No comments