LAHORE – About 34 Quality Control Labs have been established in Punjab to monitor the quality of salt iodization, said Dr Kh Masuood Ahmed, National Program Manager Universal Salt Iodization.
Addressing training workshop of lab technicians jointly organised by Department of Health and The Micronutrient Initiative on Monday, he said that quality control was an important component of Universal Salt Iodization programme.
Dr Kh Masuood Ahmed said that sample of edible salt analyzed at these labs would help share feedback with salt processors and district monitors for taking rectification measures to improve quality of salt iodization.
He shared that three reference labs were also working in Punjab to monitor the quality of district labs.
Munawar Hussain, Program Manager Punjab, The Micronutrient Initiative, said that Iodine deficiency was a major public health problem in Pakistan with no exception to Punjab.
Although a great progress has been made to address iodine deficiency disorders through universal salt iodization but more efforts were still needed.
He shared that as per National Nutrition Survey 2011, use of iodized salt has increased from 17 per cent in 2001 to 79 per cent in Punjab. He added that today’s training would be another step forward to achieve the goal of Universal Salt Iodization in Punjab.
Dr Zia-ud-Din welcomed the participants and shared that daily use of adequately iodized salt could prevent mental and physical retardation, cretinism, still births and brain damage.
It will help children live healthy and productive lives, he said.
Facilitators of the training Tariq Aziz, Muhammad Yasin, Saima Fuad and Muhammad Shahid elaborated the analysis of iodine in edible salt through titration method and different quality control measures. The class room training was followed by practical demonstration at City District Food Lab Lahore.
At the end of training certificates were distributed to all participants.