Strategies for the control of Iodine deficiency
The main strategies to control and eliminate iodine deficiency are the following:
Universal iodisation of salt for human and animal consumption
Iodine deficiency disorder can be eliminated by the daily consumption of iodised salt which is both a preventive and corrective measure for iodine deficiency and the most effective, low-cost, long-term solution to a major public health problem.
The daily requirement of iodine for adults is 150 micrograms.
Your responsibility in control of IDD is to check twice a year if families in your community are consuming iodised salt.
Supplementation of iodine capsules to populations in areas where iodine deficiency in very common
Iodine capsule dosages are:
One capsule for pregnant women and children under five.
Two capsules for women of reproductive age and children five to 14 years of age.
As a short-term strategy in highly endemic areas, iodised oil capsules should be distributed on a one-time basis to individuals. This will cover the recipients for one to two years until salt iodisation processes are in place.