Concerned over the increasing instances of iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism among women and children in the country, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath has demanded that early detection of iodine imbalance be made part of routine health check-ups.
In a letter to Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ms. Tirath suggested that arrangements be made for early detection of this deficiency at the health check-up camps with provisions for treatment also.
“In this connection, you may like to consider issuing instructions that assessment of iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism through urinary iodine excretion may be taken up as part of the health check-up in the community in all health centres. This facility may be specially extended to pregnant/lactating mothers and children under the age of six as part of the health services at anganwadi centres,” Ms. Tirath said.
Hypothyroidism
Pointing out that she was given to understand that the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had the expertise and could help in establishing a cost-effective model to diagnose and contain hypothyroidism, Ms. Tirath suggested that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare could collaborate with the DRDO in dealing with this problem and taking further remedial measures in the matter.