David P. Haxton has stepped down as executive director of ICCIDD, a position he has held since 2005. His primary message has been: IDD is the most preventable form of mental retardation, and optimal daily iodine nutrition can prevent it. His leadership at ICCIDD included global travel to more than 60 countries and directing the team of ICCIDD regional coordinators working to forge national coalitions to combat iodine deficiency disorders.

His ICCIDD leadership capped a career at UNICEF during which he was instrumental in founding ICCIDD itself in 1986. He worked 15 years in South America and 8 years as UNICEF's regional director in South Asia. Earlier he was general secretary of Junior Chamber International.

Under his leadership, ICCIDD moved strongly forward in partnership with international development agencies, private sector groups, professional societies and civil institutions, recording significant progress in salt iodization He has been a leading voice in international development councils and in written advocacy in journals and newspapers worldwide.

Haxton will remain active in ICCIDD and in the Council on World Affairs. A widower, David has 6 children, 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

During his full career at UNICEF, he served in 12 different posts, which provided essential training for his leadership role at ICCIDD. In Indonesia, for example, his primary effort was promoting universal immunization of children against six major maladies, a national effort which reached every village in every district of the country and the success. This yielded lessons applied later during the global push for universal salt iodization (USI) which has reached all countries on all continents. Village based basic services for diarrhea management were also a key element in the strategy to prevent preventable death and disability to children.

As Regional Director for South Asia he led the UNICEF large investment in immunization which reached every village over time and reduced infant mortality rates considerably. The idea of pulling the resources of global talent, development agency interest and national commitment to protection of preventable brain damage to children became a driving force in India. The idea was taking hold in other countries as well. The need for a global organization of private sector entities who owned and sold the iodized salt, the global group of scientists which led the research which showed the connection between preventable brain damage and iodine nutrition, and development agencies with resources to support a global effort led to meetings in the Regional Office of UNICEF which resulted in formation of ICCIDD in 1986. He did not join immediately to avoid a conflict of interest but after retirement became a Member of t he Board and led the Liaison Committee of ICCIDD for many years.

He has led the effort to raise resources for ICCIDD from Canadian CIDA and from other development organizations including UNICEF, GAIN, and others. Liaison between regional coordinators for ICCIDD and the national governments working to sustain elimination of IDD has been identified as a priority for the organization. He has kept relations with WHO at the Headquarters level operative, active and has attended Regional and WHO Global sessions. Relationships with UNICEF Executive Board have been maintained by regular attendance to Board Sessions and informal discussions with Delegates to keep the issue of IDD on the agenda and active in national development priorities.

As Secretary General of the Junior Chamber International he helped develop the organization from 28 National Jaycee entities to over 50 during his terms. He is a life time Honorary Member of JCI. The major global relief effort “Operation Brotherhood” in Philippines Laos and Vietnam was considered a development success. He was responsible for general fund raising and oversight for four years.

He can be reached at dphaxton@aol.com or www.iccidd.org