Iodine deficiencies are very common, especially in Europe and Third World countries, where the soil and food supply have low iodine levels. Your body uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. That's why an iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism, a condition in which the body can't make enough thyroid hormones

1. DR.ANJALATCHI MUTHUKUMARAN
VICE PRINCIPAL
ERA COLLEGE OF NURSING
National Iodine Deficiency Disorders
Control Programme (NIDDCP)

2. Introduction:
Iodine is an essential micronutrient required daily at
100-150 micrograms for normal human growth
and development. Deficiency of iodine can cause
physical and mental retardation, cretinism,
abortions, stillbirth, deaf mutism, squint & various
types of goiter.
As per the surveys conducted by the Directorate
General of Health Services, Indian Council of
Medical Research, Health Institutions and the
State Health Directorates, it has been found that
out of 414 districts surveyed in all the 29 States
and 7 UTs, 337 districts are endemic i.e where
the prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders
(IDDs) is more than 5% (Annexure-I).

3. Control Programme:
 Realizing the magnitude of the problem, the
Government of India launched a 100 per cent
centrally assisted National Goitre Control
Programme (NGCP) in 1962.
 In August, 1992 the National Goitre Control
Programme (NGCP) was renamed as National
Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control
Programme (NIDDCP) with a view of wide
spectrum of Iodine Deficiency Disorders like
mental and physical retardation, deaf mutisim,
cretinism, still births, abortions etc..
 The programme is being implemented in all the
States/UTs for entire population.

4. Goal :
 1. To bring the prevalence of IDD to below 5% in
the country
 2. To ensure 100% consumption of adequately
iodated salt (15ppm) at the household level.

5. Objectives:
 1. Surveys to assess the magnitude of Iodine
Deficiency Disorders in the districts.
 2. Supply of iodated salt in place of common
salt.
 3. Resurveys to assess iodine deficiency
disorders and the impact of iodated salt after
every 5 years in the districts.
 4. Laboratory monitoring of iodated salt and
urinary iodine excretion.
 5. Health Education and Publicity.

6. Policy :
 On the recommendations of Central Council of
Health in 1984, the Government took a policy
decision to Iodate the entire edible salt in the
country by 1992.
 The programme started in April, 1986 in a
phased manner. To date, the annual production
of iodated salt in our country is 65 lakh metric
tones per annum.

7. Nodal Ministry:
 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is the nodal
Ministry for implementation of National
IodineDeficiency Disorders Control Programme
(NIDDCP).

8. Financial assistance to all States
/UTs for the following:
 Human resource of State IDD Cell i.e Technical
Officer, Statistical Asst. & LDC and State IDD
monitoring laboratory i.e. Lab Technician & Lab
Assistant.
 Health education and publicity activities including
global IDD Day activities.
 Conducting district IDD survey/resurvey to assess
magnitude of IDD.
 Procurement of salt testing kits by State/UTs for IDD
endemic districts for creating awareness at the
community level about consumption of iodized salt
and monitoring of salt for presence of adequate iodine
at household level ( since 2013-14).
 Performance based incentive to ASHA @ Rs. 25/-
per month for conducting 50 salt samples testing by
STK at household/community level (since 2013-14).

9. Achievements:
 Over the years the Total Goiter Rate (TGR) in
the entire country is reduced significantly.
 Production of iodized salt in the country
reached to 65.00 lakh MT which is adequate to
meet the requirement of population.

10. CONTINUED
 Extensive IEC activities have been carried out to
create awareness about the regular consumption
of iodated salt in prevention and control of IDD
through Doordarshan, All India Radio, Directorate
of Field Publicity, Song and Drama, Directorate of
Advertising and Visual Publicity.


11. CONTINUED
 States/UTs have been conducting laboratory
monitoring of salt and urine to estimate iodine content
and urinary iodine excretion (UIE) and also quality of
iodated salt at household/community level. In the
year 2015-16, a total of 51163 salt samples and
15320 urine samples were analysed /tested by
States/UTs and the results have indicated that the
iodine content of salt samples up to the standard
(iodine content > 15ppm) was in the range of 52 % to
100 % and UIE (optimal) >100 µg/l was in the range
of 49 % to 100 %. A total of 5048528 salt samples at
community/household level were tested by Salt
Testing Kit (STK) and the consumption of adequately
iodated salt was in the range of 56 % to 100 %.

12. Reference
 Source: National Health Portal
 National program for control of
blindnessvikaspedia
 NPCB in ministry of health and family welfare
.website

13. Thanking you