The National Nutrition Council Region 10 (NNC X) is one with the country in celebrating the Goiter Awareness Week (GAW). This has been observed every fourth week of January through Proclamation No. 1188, signed by the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 11 December 2006. The celebration aims to raise public awareness on the prevention and control of goiter and other Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD).

Goiter is the unusual enlargement of the thyroid, the butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. Symptoms of goiter involve swelling of the base of the neck, tight feeling in the throat, coughing, hoarseness of the voice, and difficulty in swallowing and breathing. The most common cause of goiter is the lack of iodine in the diet or iodine deficiency, causing 92% of all the goiter cases worldwide. Based on the survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) last 2013, 7.7%, 8.7%, and 14.9% of the Filipino children from six to twelve years old have severe, moderate, and mild iodine deficiency, respectively. On the same survey and age group, Northern Mindanao was also identified as one of the regions having the lowest median Urinary Iodine Excretion (UIE), which could mean low iodine intake. Other causes of goiter are Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease, multinodular goiter, solitary thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, pregnancy, thyroiditis, among others. Goiter is more common to those that are living in highland areas. It usually happens to females and generally manifests beyond the age of forty. Other risk factors include pregnancy and menopause, intake of certain medications, and radiation exposure.

Simple types of goiter can be avoided through adequate iodine intake. Eating iodine-rich foods like fish, shrimp, seaweeds, and other seafood provides daily iodine needs. In the Philippines, Republic Act 8172, “An Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide” also known as ASIN Law, was passed to help promote the availability of iodized salt nationwide by requiring salt manufacturers to iodize produced salt, being the cheapest source of dietary iodine. The NNC X together with the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) members are also diligent in ensuring that only iodized salt is being manufactured, sold, and distributed in Region 10 through monitoring and random salt testing.

Aside from combating goiter by making iodine food sources available, it is equally important that Filipinos should have the right knowledge on the causes, prevention, and control of goiter. The Department of Health (DOH), NNC, and other partner agencies are doing various information dissemination initiatives such as distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, radio and television plugs, and the use of social media, making proper information about goiter available for all.

Philippine’s fight against goiter is still a long way to go. Taking simple steps in solving this perennial problem would not only answer the problem of goiter but the problem of iodine deficiency in general. With the continued efforts of the government and private sectors, along with the citizens’ cooperation, we can achieve a goiter-free country in time. (PNC Stephanie C. Barrio)

References:

Republic of the Philippines Official Gazette (2006 December 11). Proclamation No. 1188 Declaring Every Fourth Week Of January As Goiter Awareness Week. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2006/12/11/proclamation-no-1188-s-2006/

Mayo Clinic (2019 November 27). Goiter. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/goiter/symptoms-causes/syc-20351829

Tacio, H. (2015 September 24). Goiter a common disease among Filipinos. Business Miror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2015/09/24/goiter-a-common-disease-among-filipinos/