Awareness Camp-cum-Quiz competition on Iodine Deficiency Disorders organized on Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Day

Chandigarh, 20th October, 2018: Iodine Deficiency as presented by “Goitre” has prevalence rate of 3.4% in Chandigarh. At national level more than 200 million people are at risk of IDD while the number of persons suffering from goiter is above 70 million. Approximately 2.2 million children are born cretins (child  born with physical & mental retardation) and 6.6 million have some kind of  neurological deficit. Out of 312 district surveyed so far in India, 254 districts are IDD endemic.         

          To create awareness regarding Iodine Deficiency disorders, the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme Cell, Health Department of Chandigarh launched a weeklong awareness campaign in the city. Students of Govt. schools were given awareness on this problem & were informed about correct use of iodized salt and about various disorders of Iodine Deficiency. In the same week, awareness through radio talks, and advertisement through airing of taped messages on IDD too was done by the Iodine deficiency Disorders Control Programme Cell. Posters were given to each school for displaying at vantage points. Handbills, books and on the spot iodine testing kits too were provided to each school for awareness. Badges on IDD were distributed among children of various schools.

          The ‘Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Week’ concluded with quiz competition at Conference Hall, New OPD Block, Govt. Multi Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh. An exhibition on Goitre and IDD was arranged, where posters, handbills and informative literature on IDD was displayed and, where, on the spot testing of iodised salt was done to check the iodine content of salt used by the people.

          The Director Health Services, Dr. G. Dewan, Chandigarh advocated that going by the efforts of the department, Chandigarh would soon achieve non – endemic status i.e. prevalence rate of IDD will fall below 3.4%.

          50 students participated in the quiz competition. The quiz competition created further awareness on Iodine Deficiency Disorders amongst student.