NNC XI joins the nation in the observance of the World Thyroid Day on May 25 and the International Thyroid Awareness Week on 24- 30 May 2021. The Department of Health (DOH), together with its partners, namely: Iodine Global Network (IGN), Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEDM), Philippine Thyroid Association (PTA), Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine (PSNM), Philippine Society of General Surgeons (PSGS), Philippine Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (PSO-HNS), Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM), Philippine Academy of Physicians in School Health, Inc. (PAPSHI), Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) and patient organizations, will be leading the celebration of the World Thyroid Day on March 25, 2021 and the International Thyroid Awareness Week on May 24 to 30, 2021. With the theme: “Mother-Baby-Iodine: The Importance of Iodine on the Woman and her Baby”, the Department of Health (DOH), together with various specialty societies, will conduct a week-long webinar lecture series to promote disease awareness specifically on iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders in women and children.
The event aims to a. Provide an overview on the epidemiology of iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders in women and children; b. Present the core strategies on prevention and control of these disorders; and c. Promote disease awareness specifically on iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders. The week-long celebration is therefore expected to heighten the awareness on iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders among the general public and increase multisectoral collaboration or networking in the prevention and control of iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders.
The Rationale for the celebration noted that non-communicable diseases are not only limited to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, but also include neglected diseases like thyroid disorders relative to iodine deficiency. According to 2018 National Nutrition Survey, iodine deficiency still exists among elderly, lactating mothers and pregnant women. The extent and consequences of iodine deficiency disorders on women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and lactating mothers, are known to affect children during their first 1000 days of life from conception. Hence, iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders are recognized as public health threats that must be addressed by a comprehensive national health program. When left untreated, iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders are associated with negative health outcomes that include goiter, thyroid cancer, mental deficiency, physical deformities, congenital hypothyroidism and reproductive failure. It is in this light that International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) is celebrated annually every 4th week of May as declared by the 11th European Congress of Endocrinology in April 2009.
For NNC XI’s part, information dissemination relative to the nutritional component of Thyroid health will be conducted via its official facebook page and NNC XI webpage. NNC XI will also participate in the online activities lined up for the week-long celebration.
For more details on the activities for the week-long celebration, click here to download a copy of the DOH Department Circular No. 2021-0153.
/AET
