IMA urges promotion of iodised salt

IMA urges promotion of iodised salt
UNITED NEWS OF INDIA

AHMEDABAD, MAY 21: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) today urged all medical practitioners to promote consumption of iodised salt in the country.

Participating in a seminar on "iodised salt" here, IMA president T N Mehrotra said the association would work closely with government and other agencies to monitor the progress of iodisation.

Dr Mehrotra said that the IMA strongly condemned the controversy raised on the safety of iodised salt. Iodine deficiency causes goitre, could impair brain development in the foetus and infant, and retard the child's physical and psychomotor development.

He said that even a small amount of iodine deficiency could lower mental functioning and hence the need to consume iodised salt.

In view of the Union Government's proposal to review the ban on iodised salt, Dr Mehrotra said the IMA suggested the Government reassess the entire issue and rehabilitate those affected by the compulsory iodination of salt.

He said the demand of small salt producers should not be sacrified. They could be encouraged and financially supported to modernise their salt-making process so that production of iodised salt need not be the monopoly of big companies.

Small farmers in Gujarat, one of the largest salt producing states, have in the past shown that through cooperative ventures they could successfully take on multinational giants. Therefore, there was no need for the government to sacrifice the health of crores of people at the altar of the business interests of a few thousands, he added.

Those opposed to the compulsory iodination of salt, however, pointed out that iodine deficiency was mainly prevalent in Himachal Pradesh and other hilly regions of the country. Hot regions like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra get iodine in quantities more than the recommended value of 100-150 micrograms.

Voluntary agencies opposed to a ban on non-iodised salt are questioning as to why 99.8 per cent of the population is forced to consume "extra iodine'', when just 0.2 per cent suffers from its deficiency. They said scientfic reports abroad have indicated that the continuous use of iodine may lead to mental depression, nervousness, insomnia and sexual impotence.

Minister for Water Supply and Urban Housing Narottambhai Patel said the poor could not afford the cost of iodised salt when the ordinary salt was available at a cost of 70 or 80 paisa per kg. Poor people should not be ignored while formulating any legislation, he said.

The seminar was organised by the Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) and sponsored by the Indian Medical Association and UNICEF. AMA president Dr Jitubhjai B Patel also spoke on the occasion.