THE government is set to solve lack of iodine problem in Thai children with a long-term plan as a carry-on of His Majesty the late King’s aspiration to help his people.

The Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) was concerned after its latest worrying test results of newborn babies’ iodine levels indicator (thyroid-stimulating hormone), and it has come up with a 2016-2021 control and prevention plan which includes more research and monitoring of the deficiency, said DMS director-general Sukhum Karnchanapimai.

The department found that the Northeastern provinces are the area that required most immediate action, in knowing that iodine deficiency is one of the causes of newborn baby with low IQ. Since the body does not make iodine, it should be consumed as part of a person’s diet.

It is going to try to tackle the problem by urging the public health network and the communities in the Northeast to promote the use of iodine in food production, for example spraying potassium iodate solution on vegetables or mixing chicken feed with high concentrations of potassium iodate to produce eggs with high iodine.

Article by Piboon Awasdaruharote, originally published on the ThaiResidents.com website.