In order to reduce increasing cases of Iodine Deficiency Disorder in the state, the Public Health department of Odisha is set to start a campaign to check the quantity of iodine in iodized salt.

Starting from retail and wholesale stores, the health workers will also visit every single home in the state to check whether they are selling or using salt with required quantity of iodine or not.

Requirement of iodine in a human body is much necessary like food and water. Due to lack of iodine, a human body may get affected by many diseases such as intellectual disability, goiter, hypothyroidism, pregnancy-related problems, informs Dr. Kailash Das, Director, Public Health Department.

Almost 30 PPM of iodine should be maintained at production level and 15 PPM at consumption level in iodized salt. Storing iodine salt in open place will lead to lapsing of PPM level from iodized salt. Unfortunately, salt is being kept in open place at many homes as well as stores, he added.

Asha and Anganwadi workers are directed to visit door-to-door to assert the range of iodine in salt. Besides, they will also spread awareness among people about iodine deficiency disorders.

The state government will also provide a medical kit, required to examine the PPM level in iodized salt, to the workers, who have been trained on how to use it.

The state government has sanctioned Rs.70 lacs for the campaign.