National Day for Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders

Beijing, 15 May 2015 – As China celebrates the 22^nd National Day for the Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), UNICEF joins global partners to recommit to support iodine deficiency prevention and control strategies in China.

Globally, about 30% of the world's population live in areas with iodine deficiency and its complications. Without the right iodine intake in a child's diet or that of pregnant women, children can suffer from iodine deficiencies that can impact on their growth and development.

Iodine deficiency decreases child survival, causes goiter and impairs growth and development. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women causes miscarriages, low birth weight and other complications.

Iodising salt can eliminate iodine deficiency. It is effective and costs very little per person. Iodised salt is safe for infants, children and pregnant women.

At the 1990 World Summit for Children, the goal of eliminating iodine deficiencies by 2000 was set and agreed to by world leaders. Today, the world has made tremendous progress that has been made through salt fortification.  The proportion of households in the developing world consuming adequately-iodised salt has risen from less than 20 per cent in 1990 to over 70 per cent today. Each year, nearly 91 million children a year are now protected against learning impairment related to iodine deficiency and losses in learning capability. And China's success has been fundamental to that global progress.

In the early 1990s, over 700 million people in China were iodine deficient and only 39 per cent of the population were covered by iodised salt. By introducing Universal Salt Iodization, in just over a decade, 97 per cent of all households in China were consuming iodised salt. In turn, the numbers of cases of iodine deficiency had dramatically been reduced and cognitive development for children has improved along with their overall nutritional status.  

China's success can be attributed to its comprehensive regulatory environment, strong political commitment and effective monitoring system.  Through engagement with the salt industry, the country has made sure iodized salt is available, with levels of iodine content in the salt monitored and adjusted according to the population's diet so as to protect children and pregnant women who are most at risk of iodine deficiency.

 “UNICEF believes universal salt iodization is as important for China today as when the programme started.  We welcome the efforts by the Government to make adaptations and adjustments to suit the present-day context provided these adjustments are done on the basis of ongoing monitoring,” said Dr Robert Scherpbier, Chief of Health, Nutrition and WASH at UNICEF China. “We need to celebrate the incredible achievements that have been made in the country and around the world and we need to work together to maintain them.”

UNICEF China is committed to continue to work with the Government to support their efforts to IDD prevention and control programme.