4 November 2007
Taraba — In a bid to further reduce the prevalent rate of goitre in Nigeria, currently estimated at 9 million sufferers, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched intensive sensitization campaign in four goitre endemic states in the country.
The four goitre endemic states-Taraba, Benue, Nassarawa and Ebonyi are the problematic states that have prevented the country from recording 100% success in the Universal Salt Iodization (USI) programme since its commencement in 1993.
Although Nigeria's 98% USI coverage has won her the USI certification in 2005 and merit award in 2007 at the Global Micronutrient summit in Turkey, NAFDAC and UNICEF who are the key implementing agencies have begun a massive awareness campaign and advocacy programme in order to tackle the remaining 2% salt iodization coverage in the 4 problematic states.
Flagging-off the sensitization campaign on the use and consumption of iodised salt in Jalingo, Taraba State , Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili, said that in addition to public enlightenment campaign, some stern regulatory measures have been put in place to ensure attainment of 100% USI coverage in Nigeria before the end of next year. Akunyili explained that as part of these measures NAFDAC will begin to clamp down on any salt manufacturer or Importer that sells salt in big 25kg bags as from 1st January, 2008.
She maintained that the 1st January, 2008 deadline is irreversible because the regulation mandating salt manufacturers and Importers to phase out 25kg salts and produce only small pack sizes of 1kg had been shifted more than twice. According to her, Nigeria's success record as the first African country to attain USI certification and ranking as 6th out of 200 countries to achieve the rare feat could be attributed to effective multi-sectoral partnership, strict enforcement by Regulatory Agencies, strong political will by government and commitment by the salt industry.
Earlier, UNICEF Nutrition officer, Mr. Oluniyi Oyedokun, commended NAFDAC and other stakeholders for their deep commitment to USI programme and total eradication of IDD in the country.
Oyedokun urged the local salt producing communities in the goitre endemic areas to change their old habits and buy only iodized salts because of the severe health hazard associated with consumption of local salts which has shortened life expectancy of the people.
The sensitisation workshop which attracted dignitaries from various parts of the state will be extended to three other goitre endemic states of Benue, Ebonyi and Nasarawa.
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