Universal Salt Iodization (USI) - FTP Directory Listing

2www.unsystem.org/scnForewordGAIN is pleased to provide support to this issue of the SCN News which focuses on the importance of iodinedeficiency to public health, with particular emphasis on global and national efforts to improve iodine nutritionamong populations. Over the past two decades, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and their manifestationshave received a great deal of attention and resources in a major global effort to eliminate IDD through theuniversal iodization of salt (USI). A unique partnership between national governments and the salt industrywas formed, catalyzed at the country level by international agencies, such as UNICEF, resulting in rapidprogress towards the goal of USI.This publication provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress towards sustainable USI programs and toidentify success factors and lessons learnt in the process. Today, approximately 70.1% of the world’spopulation is estimated to use iodized salt, in a total of 130 countries and as a result of these efforts, it hasbeen estimated that close to 79 million infants are born with some degree of protection from the adverseconsequences of iodine deficiency.However, in spite of the success in many countries, USI programs have stalled in many settings and it isnecessary to take an honest look at what is required in order to reach higher levels of coverage and to assurethat achievements are sustained over the long term. One of the features distinguishing salt iodization frommany other public health initiatives is that it requires a high level of involvement and motivation from multipleplayers. The salt chain consists of producers, packers, truckers, wholesalers and retailers, law enforcementofficers and public health advocates. It is the intensification of the synergy amongst all the stakeholders thatwill make iodized salt accessible and affordable to all segments of populations. Innovation in this regard isneeded in order to reach the remaining 30% of the population who are, by and large, marginalized groupsthat are often economically and geographically more difficult to reach. GAIN is committed to help finish thejob of achieving USI.The experience over the past twenty years shows that a comprehensive understanding and appreciation ofthe salt industry, including different production capacities and trade dynamics, is needed to identify gaps inachieving USI and opportunities to accelerate program activities. A renewed effort is required to 1) increasethe overall supply of adequately iodized salt, 2) support Government oversight and the regulatoryenvironment, and 3) develop market-based approaches to stimulate long-term supply and demand for iodizedsalt. While previous global efforts aimed primarily to reach high levels of coverage, it is now imperative toemphasize systems and capacities that move countries into sustainability.GAIN intends to contribute to that effort. GAIN fights malnutrition by creating partnerships between the publicand private sectors, and its know-how and experience in that field can make a significant contribution towardsour common objective of USI. Reaching that objective requires increased collaboration and coordinationhorizontally as well as vertically between global advocates and national partnerships. The nutrition sectorneeds to understand where the chain from producers to consumers of iodized salt is dysfunctional or broken,and where we, as experts and practitioners, can effectively combine our skills, networks and resources tomake it work sustainably for the benefit of deficient populations.Marc Van AmeringenExecutive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN - www.gainhealth.org)SCN NEWS # 35 back to contents