A meeting of the National Alliance of Large Consumers on Promotion of Iodized Salt held recently at the Islamabad to review the alliance’s endeavours and to create awareness among the general public about the consumption of iodized salt in daily diet.
The meeting organised by The Network for Consumer Protection in collaboration with UNICEF and its partners. In the meeting it was observed that iodized salt had no harmful effect on human health and was being used in all developed country.
The meeting discussed the Alliance’s preparation regarding Global Iodine Deficiency Day being observed on 23rd of October, 2010.
Tauseef Zaman, Senior Vice President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) was the chief guest. Addressing the meeting, he said that proper awareness was a must among the masses because any relief initiative without awareness could be harmful. Some cases had been reported in the flood-hit areas where some people died when they swallowed tablets given to them for water purification. “The people in these areas did not know that tablets meant for dissolving in water, not for human consumption,” he added.
He said the industry and business community would provide all-out support to any step taken in the good faith for the welfare of the general public.
Dr. Anwar Raffay, Advocacy and Research Coordinator, The Network for Consumer Protection gave a brief overview of the importance of the iodized salt intake and efforts so far made to promote its use. The meeting observed that iodized salt had no dangerous effect on human health, and its daily intake was necessary for human health, especially, the mental growth of children.
The representative of hotel, hostel and nan bai associations briefed the meeting about the measures taken by them to create awareness regarding iodized salt’s intake. The meeting decided to run a vigorous campaign to create awareness among the general public about the use of iodised salt.
UNICEF Communication Officer Mrs. Attia Qazi, Dr. Khwaja Masuod Ahmed of the Micronutrient Initiative, Ghulam Abbas of the World Food Programme, Capt M. Rafique of the Edhi Foundation, PTDC representative Dr. Pervaiz, TN Project Coordinator Rubina Bhatti, Senior Journalist Mahmood Hussain, Pakistan Youth Hostels Association General Manager, Riaz Ahmed Khan, Nan Bai Association officials, Hassan Foods Enterprises representative SH Ali, Khaki Jan of the Nisa Group of Hostels, Nusrat Ali of the Indus Group of Hostels also attended the meeting among others.