Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme in Bangladesh

Background :

Bangladesh, one of the developing Countries in the world lies in the northeastern part of South Asia. The country is bounded by India on the West, the north and the north-east and Burma on the south east and the Bay of Bengal on the south. The area of the country is 143,999 Sq. k.m. The Limits of territorial waters of Bangladesh are 12 nautical miles and the area of the high seas extending to 200 nautical miles measured from the base lines constitutes the economic zone of the country.

Except the hilly regions in the north-east and the south-east, some areas of high lands in the north and north-western part, the country consists of low, flat and fertile land. A net work of rivers of which the Padma, the Jamuna, the Testa, the Brahmaputra, the Surma, the Meghna and the Karnaphuli are important and their tributaries numbering about 230 with a total length of about 24140 k.m. covering the country flow down to the Bay of Bangal. The alluvial soil is thus continuously washing by rivers during the rainy season.

Bangladesh enjoys generally a sub-tropical monsoon climate. While there are six seasons in a year, three namely Winter, Summer and Monsoon are prominent. Monsoon starts in July and stay up to October. This period accounts for 80% of the total rainfall. The average annual rainfall varies from 119.8 to 145.44 cm. The maximum rainfall is recorded in the costal areas of Chittagog and northern part of Sylhet district, while the minimum is observed in the western and northern parts of the country.

The geographical area, territorial waters, climate, repeated flooding, rapid deforestation, repeated cropping and perhaps indiscriminate uses of fertilizers are playing vital role in deteriorating the situation of environmental iodine deficiency in the country.

PREVALENCE OF IDD IN BANGLADESH

The first National Goitre Prevalence Study was conducted in 1981-82 by the Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the collaboration of WHO and UNICEF in all the 19 greater districts of the country and after that three other national IDD Survey were carried out in the country in different time.

Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (CIDD) Programme

Goal : To control Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) in Bangladesh through increased consumption of iodized salt

Target :To reduce biochemical iodine deficiency (UIE <100µg/L) less than 20% through increased consumption of adequately iodized salt (>90% household) by 2010

Objectives :

1. To control Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the country through universal salt iodization.
2. To ensure the quality of iodized salt through increased supervision and monitoring.
3. To conduct training for the concern personnel of salt factories on proper     production of quality iodized salt.
4. To create awareness among the different segments of population on prevention/ control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders through universal consumption of      iodized salt.
5. To activate the concern authorities for proper implementation of salt law in the country.
6. To develop different IEC materials and dissemination among the mass people.

Achievement : (2008 –2009)

1. Imparted training to 2197 Doctors/ Field workers (Health)/Nurses/Others on Control of iodine deficiency disorders.
2. 165 Salt samples were analyzed in the lab of IPHN for their iodine content under salt law and given feedback.
3. Trained up managers/ chemists/ others of salt factories of three zone (Chittagong, Potya, Cox’sbazar) on quality control of iodized salt in collaboration with BSCIC.
4. Developed different IEC materials on Control of IDD and disseminated.
5. The coverage of household iodized salt consumption has been increased from 44% (1995) to 84% (2006).
6. To prevalence of biochemical iodine deficiency (100µg/L) among children has been decreased from 71% (1993) to 33.8% (2006)
7. The prevalence of biochemical iodine deficiency has been decreased from 70.2% (1993) to 38.6% (2006)
8. The prevalence of goiter among children (6-12 Y) has been reduced from 49.8% (1993) to 6.2% (2006)
9. The prevalence of goiter among women (15-44 Y ) has been decreased from 55.6% (1993) to 11.7% (2006).
10. Future plan: To continue the on going activities.