Open AccessTowards universal salt iodisation in I ndia: achievements, challenges and future actions
Author(s) -
Rah Jee H.,
Anas Ansari M.,
Chakrabarty Arijit,
Sankar Rajan,
Pandav Chandrakant S.,
Aguayo Victor M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.12044
Subject(s) - iodised salt , medicine , population , politics , economic growth , environmental health , political science , iodine deficiency , economics , thyroid , law
I ndia is one of the first countries to introduce salt iodisation, but the national programme has experienced major setbacks. The purpose of this paper is to review the national efforts towards universal salt iodisation ( USI ) in I ndia and highlight key challenges in programme implementation. A brief historical overview of the salt iodisation programme is provided and the current status of the household usage of iodised salt and population iodine status is described. The present status of the USI programme together with the challenges being faced towards achieving USI are classified in five categories, which represent the five guiding principles crucial to sustained USI programme success: ensuring political commitment, forming partnerships and coalition, ensuring availability of adequately iodised salt, strengthening the monitoring system and maintaining continuous advocacy, education and communication. A future agenda towards the achievement of USI is also proposed.