An article in the January 5th issue of Republica reports the price of iodized salt at 20-22 rupees in the Bajura, Nepal, compared to 12 rupees for locally-produced but non-iodized salt. The price difference has impeded public health efforts to promote use of iodized salt to combat IDD.

"Most of the people in the far-flung villages of Bajura district have been consuming uniodized salt, which can be found everywhere.

"'I have always been using this salt,' said Shahi, whom Republica caught up with in Bajugad market of Bajura. 'Everyone from my village uses this salt. We have never seen iodized salt.'

"Gangaram Shahi, another local from the same village, said that he and his neighbors have no knowledge about iodized salt. 'When it comes to salt, whatever is sold without any packaing is our choice,' said Shahi.

"Uddhav Bahadur Thapa, a local businessman in Bajugad market, informed that the villagers always buy uniodized salt. However, he said, 'The iodized salt distributed by the government never reaches these villages. They are limited to the district headquarters only.'

"Thapa said a kg of iodized salt costs between 20-22 rupees while uniodized salt sells for around Rs 12.

"Agreeing with Thapa, Amrit Thapa, a local from Kausalmandau VDC-3 of Bajura, said, 'The low price of uniodized salt is one major reason why so many people still prefer it to iodized salt.'"