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Iodine deficiency causing increase in Goiter

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October 23, 2000 

Shariatpur-- (UNB) - Number of goiter patients is increasing day by day in greater Faridpur district due to iodine deficiency.

Some 58 per cent of population in five districts of greater Faridpur district comprising Shariatpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Rajbari and Faridpur do not use iodized-salt, said a recent study.

Conducted by a local non-government organisation, Shariatpur Development Organisation (SDO), the report said due to iodine deficiency number of disabled people in these districts has been increasing gradually.

Iodine is termed as a strong agent for mental and physical growth. On average, an adult should take 150 micrograms of iodine, which is mainly procured from water and soil. But excessive rainfall and floodwater washed it away from soil.

But as the poor people of remote areas are not aware of the usefulness of iodized salt, they use non-iodized salt and become victims to different diseases.

To meet country's iodine deficiency, the government enacted a law in 1994 for procuring, selling and using iodized salt. As per the new law, procuring and selling non-iodized salt is strongly prohibited.

But, violating the government ban, the report said, a section of unscrupulous traders are selling non-iodized salt for earning windfall profit.