The challenge of the global elimination of iodine deficiency disorders

Most nations of the world are well positioned for success in their pursuit of the virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) by the year 2000. In 1990 at the World Summit for Children, Heads of State and Government had agreed on this global goal and in 1992 at the International Conference on Nutrition, multi-sector country delegations from all over the world developed the prototype framework for national action. Following a special recommendation of the United Nations Joint Committee on Health Policy, universal salt iodization (USI) is now being applied in almost all countries with an IDD problem recognized as being of public health significance. The core components of national IDD programmes based on USI are presented in this paper, and examples are given of effective actions ongoing in a number of countries. While in principle all components such as communications, information management and laboratory support should integrate and complement with ongoing efforts for general nutritional improvement, national IDD programmes also have specific needs which require separate arrangements. Sources of support and information, available from the international public nutrition community are indicated. The global conquest of IDD provides an example for other effective public nutrition practices from the important lessons that are being learned. Particularly, the role of the private food sector as full partner in national programmes is relevant to ongoing and future attempts to reduce and eliminate other major global malnutrition problems.