PAGADIAN CITY, Jan 30 (PIA) –The National Nutrition Council (NNC) which is a member of the Philippine Thyroid Council lead the 6th year celebration of the Goiter Awareness Week on the 4th week of January, this year.
Themed “Goiter Iwasan, Panatilihin ang Kalusugan,” aimed to create awareness on goiter and Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) in the workplace.
Iodine Deficiency Disorders is a common cause of preventable mental retardation, impeded children’s learning ability and affects the mothers’ reproductive functions.
According to the latest National Nutrition Survey of the FNRI-DOST, the country has been found to be affected with mild IDD and the Zamboanga Peninsula is among those in the list.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IX actively participated in the IDD awareness campaign. Personnel from the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center made a presentation to remind participants about the importance of iodine in the body during their Gender and Development activity on January 24. About 50 employees from the Zamboanga del Sur PENRO, Pagadian CENRO, and regional office personnel participated.
Similarly, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) IX will undertake a survey on people’s knowledge and utilization of iodized salt by next month, and then come up with a recommendation on to concerned agencies based on the outcome of the survey.
The NNC hopes that by way of support to goiter awareness campaign, employees in government offices would patronize the use of iodized salt in workplaces. (NBE/PIA9)
