Current status of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) and strategy for its control in India.

Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) reflects the broad manifestations of iodine deficiency including the implications on reproductive functions and lowering of IQ levels in school aged children. Today, IDD is a public health problem in 130 countries and affects 13% of world's population. In India, no state is free from iodine deficiency and 200 million people are 'at risk' of IDD. Daily consumption of salt fortified with iodine is a proven effective strategy and is the measure stressed by the Government of India. The paper describes the major five phases of the IDD Control Programme in India. The paper describes the major five phases of the IDD Control Programme in India since 1962 and synthesizes the spectrum of activities that significantly attributed to the Universal salt Iodisation (USI) efforts launched in 1992. The sustainability of the USI programme is critical since IDD prevalence will rise if programme of salt iodisation weakens. A two pronged strategy needs to be institutionalized for ensuring continued demand for iodised salt, linked to ongoing health, nutrition and education programmes as well as for ensuring supply of quality iodised salt.