TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol – Even while an estimated 90 percent of households in Central Visayas are already using iodized salt, the Department of Health (DoH) 7 is not ceasing its call for everyone to use iodized salt so as to address iodine deficiency among children.

DoH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said since the salt iodization campaign started in 1995, “we have monitored that the percentage of households using iodized salt is increasing and in public markets, in fact, 90 percent of vendors are selling iodized salt in Central Visayas.”

She also said that apparently, many families are already aware of the health benefits in using iodized salt.

Madarieta said a person needs iodine as precursor for the production of thyroid hormones, thyroxine and trilodothyronine. Insufficient iodine in the body will lower production of these hormones and cause iodine deficiency disorder (IDD).

Iodine deficiency disorder could result in mental retardation, goiter or enlarged thyroid, physical sluggishness, growth retardation, reproductive failure, increased childhood mortality and other defects in development of the nervous system, among others negative consequences.

In a study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, it was revealed that the percentage of households using iodized salt is increasing. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr)