Nicholas D. Kristof of the New York Times is the winner of the inaugural winner of the Basil Hetzel Award for his understanding and advocacy of “the crucial role of micronutrients and the model achievements of iodized salt in meeting the challenge of sustainable, adequate iodine nutrition.” The award was approved by the Board of Directors of the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) at its meeting in Alexandria, VA on June 24.

“The Award carries a cash prize, but rules of the New York Times maintain the paper’s strict policy of not allowing its journalists to accept cause-related awards,” explained ICCIDD chairman Dr. Gerard Burrow, a former dean of the Yale University School of Medicine. Mr. Kristof has informed Dr. Burrow that he had to decline the award.

The Hetzel Award singled out Mr. Kristof’s role in stimulating sympathy and commitment for the cause of iodine nutrition, particularly for children and women. He has popularized understanding of the ‘hidden hunger’ of micronutrient malnutrition and has called the attention of millions to the role of iodized salt in his column ‘Raising the World’s I.Q.’ Without his work, the world would know far less about the findings of the Copenhagen Consensus which rates the cost-benefit ratios of various public health interventions and has determined that iodizing salt and fortifying other foods with micronutrients is an unrivaled public investment opportunity, at only pennies per year per person, ICCIDD’s Board noted.

The ICCIDD Hetzel Award recognizes “the person making the most significant public reportage of iodine deficiency disorders and the necessity of sustainable national programs” anywhere in the world. Dr. Basil Hetzel, a founder of ICCIDD 25 years ago, has been at the forefront of the global campaign to overcome iodine deficiency and its associated mental impairment. His efforts have firmly established the causal role of iodine deficiency in brain damage to newborns and the imperative of iodine nutrition.

“Effective journalists understand the importance of putting a ‘human face’ on news reportage,” Burrow added. “Mr. Kristof’s understanding of the crucial contribution of salt iodization, happily, has been married to his compassion and communication skills. His stories from South Asia and West Africa have universal application, enormous power and compelling character. Like Basil Hetzel, Mr. Kristof has seen an important problem, taken time to understand the problem and its causes, and projected himself in leadership to make the world a better place for us all.”

The International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) is the only international organization specifically constituted to promote optimal iodine nutrition and the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). ICCIDD's multidisciplinary global network consists of over 600 specialists from more than 100 countries.