V icious C ycle of vitamin A deficiency and infection Vitamin A deficiency Increased losses of vitamin A Increased susceptibility to infection (iii) Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD): Iodine is required for normal mental and physical growth and development. IDD is an ecological phenomenon, largely due to deficiency of iodine in the soil. Some of the states in India where IDD is common are– Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the Himalayan belt, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The term ‘ Iodine Deficiency Disorders ’ refers to a spectrum of disabling conditions that affect the health of humans, from fetal life through adulthood due to inadequate dietary intake of iodine.
Deficiency of iodine results in insufficient amount of thyroid hormone which is synthesised by the thyroid gland. Enlarged thyroid known as ‘goitre’ is the most common manifestation of iodine deficiency in adults. In children it manifests as cretinism. Iodine deficiency in adults during pregnancy has several adverse effects specially resulting in mental retardation and congenital abnormalities of the fetus.
Unfortunately this effect is irreversible. IDD is estimated to affect about per cent of the world’s population and about per cent are at risk. Strategies/intervention to tackle Nutritional Problems As our former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh stated in one of his speeches “ The problem of malnutrition is a matter of national shame …… I appeal to the nation to resolve and work hard to eradicate malnutrition in years ”.
There is a need to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to solve nutritional problems. Government is making considerable efforts to solve the problems. POSHAN Abhiyaan or the PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition was launched in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan in March . It targets stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and low birth rate.
It is meant to monitor and review the implementation of all such schemes. Its large component involves gradual scaling-up of interventions to all districts in the country by . The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is implementing POSHAN Abhiyaan in districts in the first