Can Africa Meet the Goal of Eliminating Iodine-Deficiency Disorders by the Year 2000?

The story of the control of iodine-deficiency disorders in Africa is one of success and provides the best example of how Africa can make rapid progress in the area of health and nutrition. It shows that Africa is moving rapidly towards the elimination of iodine-deficiency disorders by the year 2000 largely because of the availability of affordable, cost-effective technology and an unprecedented alliance among governments, the private sector, and international agencies. Following the impetus created by the 7987 regional meeting sponsored by WHO/UNICEF/International Council for the Control of Iodine-Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) and attended by 22 countries, and particularly after the 1990 World Summit for Children and the 1992 International Conference on Nutrition in which the elimination of iodine-deficiency disorders by the year 2000 was adopted as a feasible goal, progress towards universal salt iodation in Africa has been spectacular. By the end of 1995, there were iodine-deficiency disorder control programmes, using iodated salt as the long-term strategy, in almost all of the 50 countries in Africa where WHO estimates that iodine-deficiency disorder is a problem of public health significance. As of February 1996, it was estimated that more than 50% of the salt consumed in Africa was iodated, and that if the present efforts towards provision of iodation machinery and regulatory mechanisms are carried out to their logical conclusion, the mid-decade goal of universal salt iodation might be achieved by the end of 1996. The elimination of iodine-deficiency disorders in Africa may be a reality by the beginning of the next millennium. Major challenges to complete and sustained universal salt iodation still remain and require sustained advocacy, resource mobilization and monitoring, and evaluation.