IDD PROGRAMME

(IODINE DEFICIENCY DISORDERS)

Another on-gong community activity is the IDD Programme.

It is essential in Sabah because of the mountainous nature of the state and many rural areas are far from the sea which is a rich source of iodine. Kiwanis Club of Kota Kinabalu when it does Health Camp in the rural areas or visit the rural schools, part and parcel of its activities is the distribution of iodized salts to families.

Why is iodine important?

Here are the facts.

IDD = Iodine Deficiency Disorder

IDD affect Children Mental Health especially in the rural areas, mountainous and far away from the sea. Lethargy, do not progress well in school could be lack of iodine in diet.

IDD during pregnancy may result in stillbirth, congenital abnormalities, cretinism, irreversible mental retardation.

Goitre is due to lack of iodine causing enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Goitrogen blocks the absorption or utilisation of iodine in the human body.

Examples of goitrogen are cassava (ubi kayu), cabbage, peanuts, soybean and many others. (Rural diets are rich in goitrogen thus they need more iodine to compensate.)

Body needs 150-microgram iodine daily for adult.

For children between age 1 – 10 years, their daily need 70 – 120 micro-gram.

Iodine is easily absorbed into the body in the form of iodide.

Excess is excreted from the body via urine and faeces.

Food rich in iodine is seafood.

Milk and egg iodine contents – depends on the feed given to them. Thus kampong chicken egg has less iodine.

Vegetables – depends on the amount of iodine in the soil thus soil in rural areas has little iodine because it is far from the sea.

Fresh water fish contains very little iodine.

The best way to obtain iodine is through the use of iodised salt. 1 gm of iodised salt contained 76 microgram of iodide.