Cebu City – ASIN LAW has drawn more stakeholder support even after nutrition surveys showed that iodine levels among Filipinos have improved.
Among the stakeholders who pledged support are the DOH, DOST, DTI, DA, NEDA, POPCOM, DSWD, DOLE, NCP, DOH – Food and Drug Administration, DENR – Environmental Management Bureau, Bureau of Customs, Phil. Ports Authority, PNP-Police Regional Office 7, DTI -Bureau of Investments and DOF - Cooperative Development Authority), Salt Industries Players (Artemis Salt Corporation, Salinas Foods, Inc., Geltech Hayco and Arvin International Marketing), Non-Government Organizations (Phil. Association of Nutrition, Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Phil. and Nutrition Center of the Philippines), and the Academe (University of San Carlos-Home Technology Department).
During the forum the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force was reorganized. The body also elected Philippine Ports Authority as Chairperson and the Food and Drug Administration as the Co-Chair.
The ASIN Law provides for salt iodization in the country. The salt iodization forum that was held last May 3 at the Cebu Grand Hotel in Cebu City sought to present the iodine deficiency disorder situation in the region and the country, provide updates on the status of the National Salt Iodization Program (NSIP) and the ASIN Law implementation in the region; reorganize the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force; discuss issues and challenges in NSIP and ASIN law implementation and propose possible actions; and recommend mechanisms for coordination between and among regional line agencies concerned with the program and the local government units. Likewise, the forum sought to offer venues for small and large producers and manufacturers of salt and other concerned stakeholders to interact and exchange ideas in the pursuit of building efficient set of connections and relationships both for the government and salt industry.
Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) is a broad spectrum of deficiencies resulting from lack of iodine in the diet which leads to the reduction of intellectual and physical capacity affecting everyone who is iodine-deficient. IDD may manifest as goiter, mental retardation, physical and mental defects, and cretinism.
Based on the national nutrition surveys (NNS) of the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute in 2003 and 2008, the iodine situation in the country has improved, with levels that no longer suggest a public health problem. However, there continues to be prevalence of iodine deficiencies for children of 6-12 years old with median UIE less than 50 mcg/L (moderate and severe) between 2003 and 2008. Iodine deficiency among pregnant women remains to be of concern as median UIE is still below the WHO-recommended level of 150 mcg/L.
Surveys also showed an increase of households with low iodine content in their household salt. Only 25.2 percent of household salt recorded iodine levels greater than or equal to 15ppm. There continues to be a lack in the supply of iodized salt.
The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2011-2016 aims for the elimination of IDD. Specific targets are achieving a median urinary iodine excretion (UIE) greater than 100 mcg/L for children 6-12 years old and lactating women, and greater than 150 mcg/L for pregnant women; no more than 20 percent of children 6-12 year olds should have UIE less than 50 mcg/L and more than 90 percent of households should use salt that has been iodized adequately.
The Technical Working Group on the NSIP formulated a comprehensive and integrated strategic plan to improve iodine status through improved supply and use of iodized salt.
// Grace Tangcawan, CTU DevCom Intern
