For the first time, the topic was discussed during last week’s Special Session at the 46th annual meeting of Ministers of Health from Eastern and Southern Africa held in Seychelles.

It is estimated that close to 324 million people on the continent are iodine deficient, with hard hit being children.  

Children experiencing this problem suffer from stunted growth and a loss of up to 13 Intelligence Quotient (IQ) points, which is a significant burden to their countries, particularly at this time when intellect is considered as key to driving economies in the 21 century.

Hence, this meeting took stock of the progress made so far and the efforts needed to end iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) in many African countries. 

For now, it is agreed that the solution in ending iodine deficiency lies with establishing broader partnership with salt producers, salt marketers and governments, to realize full iodization of salt in Eastern and Southern Africa. 

Fortifying foods with iodine or using iodine supplements, is the other best way to get it into people’s diets. 

Universal iodization of salt is a long-standing and highly effective measure already widely in place around the world, including African countries. But many African countries are yet to take this on board. 

Yet, according to the World Bank, for every dollar invested in preventing iodine deficiency, productivity increases by US$28. 

Likewise, countries where iodinization of salt is taking place have made significant gains in the intellect of their populations as it improves cognitive abilities. 

Countries that have iodinized their salt since the 1980s are now reaping the benefits of low complications related to iodine deficiency. 

In Kenya and Uganda, for instance, more than 90 percent of households are already using iodized salt. Other countries with scores of 70 percent and above in regard to households consuming iodized salt are: Burundi (98 percent), Tunisia (97 percent), Nigeria (97 percent), Zimbabwe (93 percent), Lesotho (91 percent), Zambia (77 percent), Rwanda (88 percent), Coted’Ivoire (84 percent), Congo (82 percent), Egypt (78 percent), Mali (74 percent), and Benin (72 percent). 

While there are these high performers, Africa has sad stories as well. In Mauritania iodized salt stands at 2 percent, Gambia (7 percent), Ethiopia (20 percent), Ghana (32 percent), Angola (35 percent), Senegal (41 percent), Tanzania (43 percent), Sierra Leone (45 percent), and Malawi (48 percent). 

According to UNICEF and the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD), the negative effects of lack of iodine are dreadful.

Children born to mothers who are iodine deficient may suffer from slight to pronounced physical or mental impairment or both. 

In extreme cases they may have the neurological condition of cretinism (an endemic disease characterized by goiter, stinted growth, swelled abdomen, and wrinkled skin). 

Besides brain damage, iodine deficiency may lead to development of goitre

Mothers who are iodine deficient also run a higher risk of miscarriages, still births and perinatal mortality.