Iodine is an element present in salt and is needed to regulate the thyroid hormone in our body, w…

Iodine is an element present in salt and is needed to regulate the thyroid hormone in our body, which in turn is responsible for a person’s overall growth. This day is observed in order to raise awareness regarding the importance of iodine in an individual’s development.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working since the 1980s to underline the effects of iodine deficiency by building national salt iodization programs.

UNICEF along with the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDC) has strategized several international programs and has been able to provide 66 percent of homes with iodized salt.

Iodine deficiency leads to problems in a person's metabolism and can also hamper the development of the brain. Irregular secretion of thyroid hormones can lead to a condition called goiter as well.

Around 200 million people in India reportedly face a potential risk of Iron Deficiency Disorder (IDD). In 1962, India launched the National Goiter Control Program (NGCP) which was implemented in many States and UTs to ensure that there is adequate consumption of iodized salt in all households and through this initiative, the Total Goiter Rate (TGR) in the country has reduced significantly.