Representative of UNICEF in Maputo, Koen Vanormelingen, has stressed the need for the Mozambican government to deal with iodine deficiency in children. Speaking at a meeting of the National Salt Iodation Programme on 1 September, Vanormelingen said that in order to advance, "we are going to need better regulations on the production of salt, better commitment on the part of salt producers and better marketing of iodated salt."

It is estimated that 3.5 million children in Mozambique between six and 12 years of age and over 1.5 million women of reproductive age are suffering from iodine deficiency. The 2011 Demographic and Health Survey showed that iodized salt is least available in the most populous provinces of Nampula and Zambezia, where about 40% of the Mozambican population lives.

Among the challenges that still exist are the establishment of a simplified mechanism to facilitate the purchase of potassium iodate by salt producers, and of a quality control system. To stimulate demand, UNICEF urges that the government hold an information campaign stressing the importance of consuming iodized salt.