Promoting universal salt iodization (USI) in Angola's central Huambo province got a boost, Agencia Angola Press reported Feb. 2, when its Salt Iodization Technical Commission announced stepped-up effort to promote public awareness of iodized salt, including demonstrations in schools.

"The Huambo districts of Londuimbali, Bailundo and Mungo, are seen as the most affected by goitre, with a total of 1,343 cases, 932 of which affecting women feared to have taken non-iodised salt.

"In 2008, under the goitre fighting campaigns, the technical commission iodised 15,550 kilograms of salt.

"The consumption of non-iodised salt causes goitre, cretinism, child mental growth deficiency, infant death, congenital abnormalities, abortion, still born and poor school performance."