Salt producers urged to iodise their produce

Assin Fosu, Aug 10, GNA - Nana Ato Arthur, the Deputy Central Regional Minister, has appealed to salt producers, especially those in the region, to ensure that the salt they produce is iodised to help improve the health of consumers, especially children.

He expressed regret that although iodisation of salt is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of improving the lives of children, only 27 per cent of the population in the region consumes iodised salt. Nana Arthur said this in a speech read for him at the regional launch of the ''universal salt iodisation strategy'' at Assin Fosu. ''The Central Region is one of the major salt producing areas in the country but it has been classified as one of four regions with low levels of iodated salt consumption.''

He said about 120,000 Ghanaian children are born yearly with intellectual impairments due to iodine deficiency pregnancy. Nana Arthur appealed to private corporate bodies and individuals in salt production not to concentrate their activities in the urban areas alone and urged schools, hotels, restaurants and food vendors to use iodated salt.

Mrs Alice Kuranchie, the Assin South District Chief Executive, called on women to patronize iodated salt since they fall victim to many iodine deficiency disorders such as still birth, premature delivery and goitre.