29 January 2016 Dapitan City, the Department of Health led the celebration of the National Goiter Awareness Week (GAW) bannering the theme “Goiter sugpuin, isip patalinuhin, Iodized Salt gamitin!”An annual national event, the GAW focuses on information dissemination and prevention of goiter and other iodine deficiency disorders that may result to mental and physical retardation in children as early as the child is in the womb.
Conducting a national event for the Goiter Awareness Week in Dapitan City gave a focus attention to the seriousness of IDD problem in the region, as in the 8thNational Nutrition Survey in 2013 among school aged children, 41% of this age group in Zamboanga Peninsula was found to have mild Iodine Deficiency Disorders, with a median UIE µg/L at 68 marking the region as the only one in the country with IDD.
Led by the DOH 9 Regional Director Dr. Ruby Constantino and Dr. Carmela Granada GAW coordinator of DOH representing Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Gerardo V. Bayugo, the event’s program was highlighted by the discussion of Dr. Teofilo O. L. San Luis Jr.,the Executive Director of Global Iodine Network on the IDD problem in Zamboanga Peninsula and the support and commitment of the Local Chief Executives, Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos of Dapitan City and the ZDN Governor Roberto Uy to strengthen and closely monitor the implementation of the RA 8172. Other stakeholders who participated in the day-long event were officers of the National Nutrition Council, the members of the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force, the regional and provincial health personnel and Municipal Nutrition Action Officers among others.
Dr. San Luis in his presentation of the overview of the GAW and its 2016 theme stressed that the LGUs should urgently address the IDD problem in the region particularly in Zamboanga Del Norte which has the highest IDD prevalence in the country at 55.5%, noting too that the results of iodine tests in households salt were the lowest.
He strongly encouraged the public to use iodized salt, for the LGUs to allocate budget for the implementation of salt iodization program andstrengthen its information dissemination component, monitor that the salt manufacturers, wholesalers, producers, and retailers throughout the province are compliant with RA 8172 or the Act of Salt Iodization Nationwide, in distributing and selling only iodized salt for human consumption and that food establishments and government institutions e.g. schools, hospitals are compliant as well.
In response, the representatives of the governor Mr. Roberto Pinsoy and the representative of the Dapitan Mayor, Hon. Patrick Jimmy Israel Bajamunde Chan assured that actions in strengthening the implementation of the Salt Iodization Program are in placed as the respective LGUs have issued local ordinances and resolutions and established the Bantay Asin Task Force to regularly monitor progress on the salt iodization program in the province, City and in the municipality.
Other activities that were under taken during the day were the distributions of free iodized salt to the participants during the event were given by ARVIN International in partnership with Zamboanga Stall Owners (ZAMSO) and FIDEL Iodized salt. Press conference, Goiter Screening and Referral and Lay forum by Philippine Thyroid Association were also done in the afternoon session
