Bahrain’s Health Minister Sadiq bin Abdul-Kareem Al-Shehabi expressed his delight at the Kingdom’s accomplishment of "zero iodine deficiency" status, thus becoming the first country in the eastern Mediterranean region and the Middle East declared free from any iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs).

The Minister emphasized that this achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of MOH officials and the constant support and directives from the WHO and the ICCIDD.