The iodine deficiency survey conducted by theAndhra PradeshHealth department has found that about 72% of the households are consuming adequately iodised salt.
The iodine Nutrition status of the school aged children (6-12 years) has been taken as a proxy for the total Population. According to thestudy, the prevalence of goitre is 1.8% amongst the 6-12 years age group, an indicator of long-term iodine deficiency. Nutrition International, a global nutrition organisation headquartered in Canada, extended the technical support for the survey conducted in 2020-21.
According to experts, iodine is a micronutrient required in very small quantity in our daily diet, for optimal mental and physical development. In order to address iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), the Union Government launched the National Goitre Control Programme in 1962, which was later renamed as National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme in 1992.
As per the latest survey, Andhra Pradesh is close to winning the battle against IDDs, with the achievement of 72% coverage of adequately iodised salt in the population. This is an improvement from the 63.9% coverage reported in the India Iodine Survey 2018-19.