The NNC for Central Luzon hosted the Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Awareness Seminar on 20 January 2015 at the EPHATHA Development Center, SACOP, City of San Fernando, Pampanga in observance of the Goiter Awareness Week designated every last week of January by the DOH. The theme “GOITER SUGPUIN, ISIP PATALINUHIN, IODIZED SALT GAMITIN” remained the campaign declaration. The seminar, which was participated by 26 participants from LGUs and 20 from Media and Regional Nutrition Committee Agency-Members, with its Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBTAF) became a good opportunity to promote the 2012 Revised Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) particularly guideline # 7 which urges the use of Iodized Salt to prevent IDD among other cost effective and practical measures. The fact revealed in the 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute that 47.5% of the households (HH) salt in the Philippines, particularly the supply coming from Zamboanga, Central Luzon, Ilocos Region and ARMM falling under the 0 to <5ppm range is alarming and is calling for an immediate action and thus this seminar was conceived. During the seminar, emphasis was focused on the key message that Iodine Deficiency Disorders has been called the world's major cause of preventable mental retardation and its manifestation is not simply Goiter as known by many. To rationalize further the need to create a greater IDD awareness, NPC Panlilio started her discussion that IDD severity can vary from mild intellectual blunting to frank cretinism, a condition that includes gross mental retardation, deaf-mutism, short stature, and other various defects. In her Welcome Message, she mentioned that individuals becoming poorly equipped to fight disease, learn, work effectively, or reproduce satisfactorily were among the negative impact on socio-economic development of the region and that of the country.
Results of the 8th National Nutrition Survey were shared and regional level accomplishments were presented vis-à-vis the National Salt Iodization Program Framework. A very significant output of the seminar was the generation of support from the different agencies and LGUs for activities which can be incorporated in the Regional Work Plan.
Towards the end of the seminar, the challenge posed is the recognition that while the law is continually trying to hurdle challenges in implementation, there is a need to invest in nutrition education, particularly on IDD and Goiter Prevention. This could go a long way in addressing this “silent emergency” yet it is good that Goiter Awareness Week is in January so that awareness campaign can be started early and can be continued year-long.
The prayer, the Bantay Asin Task Force (BATF) Pledge, the message, the commitment of all LGUs and agency partners were expressions of the region’s initial unified efforts in fighting goiter and other forms of IDD through increasing Iodized SAKTO Salt consumption in the region starting in our households.
Successfully carried out as the first major event of the year, the seminar was able to change perspective among the Regional and LGUs Nutrition Partners.
