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Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Asin law helps reduce iodine deficiency among children
Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) among children six to 12 years old has dropped significantly since the enforcement of the Asin (An Act on Salt Iodization Nationwide) Law in 1995.
In 1998, the Department of Health (DOH) noted that 38 percent of the children belonging to the age group have IDD. This went down to 11 percent in 2003.
IDD results in preventable mental retardation, deaf-mutism, low IQ, physical retardation and goiter.
With the present figure, the DOH and the National Nutrition Council want the same reduction in cases of vitamin A deficiency disorder (VADD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) through the Food Fortification Law.
Food fortification is the addition of micronutrients to food items that are widely consumed by the public. The Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 aims to increase dietary intake of vitamin A, iron and iodine.
The country celebrated yesterday the second Food Fortification Day, as mandated by President Arroyo through Executive Order 382 signed on Oct. 29, 2004.
Assembly
To increase awareness among Cebuanos, a regional assembly was held at the Cebu Business Hotel among barangay nutrition scholars, in time for the Food Fortification Day.
The objectives of the gathering included information-education campaign and interventions including micronutrient supplementation and feeding programs in their respective barangays.
DOH, for its part, regularly checks if manufacturers are implementing the law. The agency gives products a Sangkap Pinoy seal as proof that these have been fortified with micronutrients.
On the part of the local government units (LGUs), Mandaue City Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, national president of the Philippine Councilors’ League, said LGUs should complement the law with an ordinance to ensure its implementation.
Ma. Ligaya Moneva, food fortification coordinator of DOH 7, said 98.25 percent of food manufacturers have complied with the Asin Law and over 60 percent for the Food Fortification Law.
Moneva told reporters only 16 percent are aware that their food is fortified. Some are even unaware of the Food Fortification Law.
The DOH said that while people may have enough to eat, many still suffer from micronutrient malnutrition. Children, pregnant women and lactating mothers are the most vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency disorder and iron deficiency anemia.
Blindness
VADD may lead to preventable blindness, increased susceptibility to childhood illness and respiratory infections.
IDA, on the other hand, causes impaired mental and physical development, increased susceptibility to infections, low endurance, sluggishness and low capacity for work.
Figures show that in 1993, at least three of 10 preschoolers (35.3 percent) were found to have VADD. The figure rose to 38 percent in 1998, and 40 percent in 2003.
The same trend was noted for pregnant mothers—13.4 percent (1993) to 22.2 percent (1998). The figure, however, went down to 17.5 percent in 2003.
As for lactating mothers, at least one in 10 were reported to have VADD in 1993. This rose to 16.5 percent in 1998 and 20 percent in 2003.
Infants are even more susceptible to IDA, with six in 10 reportedly affected in 2003.
Statistics of pregnant women and lactating mothers suffering from IDA fluctuated between 42 percent and 50 percent throughout the 10-year period. (JGA)
(November 8, 2005 issue)
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