Cebu City – The Regional Bantay Asin Task Force 7 (RBAT 7) led the celebration of the Goiter Awareness Week (GAW) in the region on 25 to 30 January 2016. Plans for the said celebration were approved unanimously by the body during 1st Quarter RBAT 7 meeting held on 21 January 2016 at St. Mark's Hotel, Cebu City.

A simultaneous kick-off of the week-long GAW activities among RBATF 7 member agencies happened on 25 January 2016 after the flag-raising ceremony which included an info-dissemination on GAW theme, sharing of some concepts on goiter and other thyroid disorders, Iodine Deficiency Disorder, iodized salt and related topics and hanging of streamers. A cooking demo of an iodine-rich dish “Seafood Roll” was featured on 26 January over ABS-CBN’s Maayong Buntag Kapamilya show also highlighted the GAW observance.

Local government units and national government agencies are urged to promote the GAW and RA 1872 or the ASIN Law or Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide and Related Purposes through the social media; the organization of seminars, lectures, and related activities highlighting the theme; the putting up of GAW corner in respective organization's bulletin boards, webpages and existing publications; the conduct of special events such as nutrition quiz shows, cooking competitions, essay writing, jingle making and poster making contests highlighting the theme; and, distribution of IEC materials on goiter, IDD, Saktong Iodine sa Asin to clients and the general public.

There will also be surveillance and monitoring of the operation of selected salt producers and distributors in Metro Cebu as part of the highlight of the celebration.

Tapping the media, representatives of the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force 7 would guest in Aksyon Para sa Nutrisyon over at DYLA 909 mHz on 29 January and in Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko sa Radyo over DYSS 999 khz on 30 January.

You can also celebrate in your own way by buying only iodized salt from your favorite dealer, by asking your preferred store if they sell iodized salt and by advocating to your friends to buy and use iodized salt only by looking for the Saktong Iodine sa Asin seal. //Dave F. Bargamento