By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No.1188, series of 2006, every 4th week of January is Goiter Awareness Week or GAW which falls on January 24 to 30 this year.
A goiter is is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is the small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam’s apple. It produces hormones such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) that regulate the body's temperature, metabolism, and heart rate. Insufficient iodine intake over a long period of time can cause the thyroid gland to work harder to produce the right amount of these hormones. The thyroid gland will increase in size to trap Iodine, making it visible in the neck.
Aside from simple goiter, deficiency in iodine has other adverse effects particularly on growth and development. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), iodine deficiency during pregnancy can result to stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, and congenital abnormalities such cretinism - an irreversible form of mental retardation. Iodine deficiency also reduces the individual’s intellectual capacity resulting to poor academic performance and productivity.
Iodine deficiency can be prevented by eating a variety of foods everyday and foods rich in iodine such as fish, shellfishes, and seaweeds. Infants can get their iodine from breastmilk. The simplest way to get our daily requirement for iodine is by adding iodized salt in the foods that we eat. As what Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos No. 7 recommends, we need to “Use iodized salt to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders”.
In support of the celebration of this year’s Goiter Awareness Week, the NNC-NCR will be distributing laminated posters with the message “Goiter Sugpuin, Isip Patalinuhin, Iodized Salt Gamitin – Asin na may tatak Saktong Iodine sa Asin ang gamitin!” to all the cities and municipalities in Metro Manila for posting in supermarkets and retail stores. This promotional material on iodized salt aims to encourage consumers to buy and use iodized salt.
A meeting with the focal nutritionist-dietitians of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila will be held in February to discuss the distribution and utilization of the promotional material on iodized salt and the activities of their respective local Bantay ASIN Task Forces in the new normal.
Prevent Goiter. Gumamit ng iodized salt.
(ELF/MEVF/NNC NCR)
References:
- who.int
- mayoclinic.org
