Iodized salt compulsory in Bantaeng

Iodized salt compulsory in Bantaeng

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The local representative of UNICEF,
Purwanta Iskandar, said here on Wednesday that the Bantaeng
regency in the province had regulated the use of iodized salt.

He called on other regencies to follow suit in its program to
publicize the importance of using iodized salt.

He said UNICEF would continue to forge cooperation with local
mass media and administrations in a worldwide effort to fight
against diseases caused by the lack of iodine in the diet.

Millions of children in rural parts of the province are under
threat of mental disorder, abnormalities and several other
diseases as most fail to consume enough iodine.

"We will provide test kits for regents and their deputies to
allow them to examine the supply of salt in traditional markets,"
he said in a meeting with deputy regents in the province.

He said with such a regulation, local administrations would
have an authority to impose sanctions against those supplying
uniodized salt in all regencies in the province. --JP