Rawalpindi: Pakistan with a population of around 179.2 million has 50 million people with the iodine deficiency according to estimation. However majority of the left people may fall prey to the disease, studies have suggested.
Among the serious health issues in the country, with gastro-intestinal disorders commonly, brain damages and iodine deficiency are likely to affect most of the children in the country. Due to the poor health condition’s Pakistan is ranked 6th for having the most affected of the deficiency and the problem.
Study conducted by National Nutrition Survey (NNS). Two years back revealed upon the high rate consumption of the iodized salt by people in Punjab, which was comparatively low in the year 2001. Nepal is a country that has the same condition, where 98 % people use iodized salt.
Professor Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhary, Professor and Head of Community Centre at CMH Lahore Medical College said that the IDD are common in poor people, pregnant women. He added that despite the availability of the iodized salt and awareness amongst the masses still there remain many people uninformed of its deficiency issues and its vital importance.