Khawaja Masood referring to a recent National Nutrition Survey said 70 percent of the households in Pakistan are using
iodized salt.
On the occasion Federal DG Health Dr Asad Hafeez said that mental capability of more than 38 million children can be enhanced if the parents make
iodized salt , essential part of their daily diet.
They were addressing the participants of media training workshop on the reporting of iodine deficiency disorders and promotion of consumption of
iodized salt, organized by The Network for Consumer Protection in collaboration with the UNICEF.
According to them, the utilization of
iodized salt at the household level was only 17% despite 56.4% respondents were aware about
iodized salt.
The objective of the training is to sensitize media regarding iodine deficiency disorders and importance of
iodized salt consumption.
Aslam Chaudhry, Director General Health Services (DGHS) Punjab, said that the companies producing
iodized salt were serving the humanity through elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.
He said being large consumers of salt they could play a vital role in creating demand for
iodized salt among people.
He asked the participants to focus on removal of the obstacles faced by field staff ensuring supply of
iodized salt. Khalid Iqbal, provincial coordinator, MI while highlighting aims and objectives of the workshop informed that various partners had been invited to it to devise efficient laws for promotion of
iodized salt.
He said that sanitary and food inspectors of the department of Health would monitor salt factories on weekly basis to ensure processing of adequately
iodized salt only.