Scarcity Of Iodine Increases Up To Alarming Situation In AJK

MUZAFFARABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th August, 2016) : The scarcity of iodine increased in Azad Jammu and Kashmir alarmingly and up to 70 percent population has been effected with the lack of iodine in the area.

The Director General Health Azad Kashmir Dr.Bashir Chaudhry revealed while addressing an advocacy seminar organized by health department here on Thursday. He said fifty countries have banned the use of salt without mixture of iodine and we need legislation to stop the frequent transportation of salt without iodine mixture in Azad Kashmir and stressed the need for awareness among the masses for the use of iodine mixture salt. DG Health sought help from district administration to halt the transportation of salt without iodine mixture in AJK.

He said that numerous health hazards have been erupted due to inexistence of Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) in Azad Kashmir, setting such an institution was need of the hour, he added. He said the children were identified the most victim of lack of iodine which badly effect their mental growth and stressed upon the media to launch an awareness drive with the assistance of Health deportment for the use of iodine mixture salt and its positive effects. The Seminar was also addressed by WHO representative Dr.

Gowhar, Ch.Imtiaz and others and highlighted the importance of the use of iodine.