Srinagar, March 20 : Health department would conduct a survey of iodine deficiency disorders (Goitre) among the children in the age group of 6 to 12 years in four districts of Kashmir valley, officials said. They said, the Government Medical College Srinagar through its nodal department of Comm ty Medicine (SPM) is conducting iodine deficiency disorders survey among the children in the age group of 6-12 years, studying in government and private schools. The survey would be conducted in four districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Shopian in the valley under the principal investigator of the survey Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan Professor and Head of Department (HOD), Comm ty Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, a statement said. The teams from Comm ty Medicine department of GMC Srinagar shall be visiting thirty clusters, each covering 90 boys and girls in pre puberty age groups, covering 2700 children per district. A total of 10800 children shall be enrolled in four districts in Kashmir. Every child enrolled in the study would be examined for any goiter, that is enlargement of thyroid gland in the neck as per classification by World Health Organization (WHO). In addition salt samples shall be taken from every fifth enrolled child while urine samples will be collected from every tenth enrolled child to estimate iodine content as salt and urine respectively. Directorate of School Education, Kashmir has already given the permission for the survey while addressing all concerned chief education officers of respective districts for necessary cooperation and support. The survey is financed under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program (NIDDCP) and was delayed due to COVID pandemic which forced closure of schools for almost two years. Training of field staff has been given by senior faculty from Department of ENT, GMC Srinagar. This study would tell us about the prevalence of iodine deficiency among the vulnerable population of 6-12 years which has been addressed through versal iodization of edible salt decades back. Some population groups and strata are still found consuming rock salt which is devoid of iodine content making people vulnerable to iodine deficiency as water and soil are the main natural sources. However due to rains and snow, the iodine is lost in erosion of upper layers of soil. Further faulty cooking practices also cause loss of iodine in foods, said Dr. Khan. QAB SHK1744
