UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD ELIMINATION IN GEORGIA IDD Elimination & Universal Salt Iodization Policy in Georgia Current Trends and Challenges Ms. Mariam Jashi APO Health – UNICEF Georgia Mr. Zurab Sekhniashvili Director, National Center for Nutrition National Conference “Enhancing Partnership for IDD Elimination in Georgia” June Tbilisi Georgia

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Iodine Deficiency in Georgia Traditional Concern 1745 First source describing Goiter problem - writings by Vakhushti Bagrationi 1921 Establishing Universal System for Combating Endemic Goiter - USSR 1935 Republican Dispensary for Goiter Prevention in Tbilisi, Adjara & Kutaisi 1939 Iodized Salt Manufacturing in Kutaisi supplying Racha-Letchkhumi, Imereti, Svaneti and other High-Land areas Goiter prevalence in the High-Land regions reduced from 42.7% to 14%

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Lost Opportunity 1970s IDD Virtually Eliminated in Georgia 1980s Reducing efforts to sustain achievements - Illusion of IDD Liquidation 1990s Social-Economic Crisis, Disruption of Iodized Salt Import & Distribution Mid-1990s Alarming Trend of IDD and Goiter Prevalence throughout the Country

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA No Single District in Georgia Free of Goiter Age group >15 years old Per cent > 70.1 Missing Data

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Per cent < – 70.0 > 70.1 Missing Data No Single District in Georgia Free of Goiter -

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA National Efforts to Combat IDD since 1990s 1996 Presidential Decrees on State IDD Programme & National Council on IDD 1997 VAT (20%) Exception Policy for Iodized Salt Import (0.15%) and Sale Establishing district IDD committees in 71 administrative units 1998 State Standard for Iodized Salt Special Coding for Import of Iodized Salt vs. Non-iodized IDD Centres in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, Telavi & Zugdidi Lab & Ultrasound Equipment provided by UNICEF Continuous Disease Surveillance and Database Formation

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA National Efforts to Combat IDD since 1990s Free consultation provided to 500,000 patients Medication (Levoxile) provided by ACTS Georgia for treatment of Goiter Distribution of Iodized Oil Capsule to 300,000 children, pregnant & lactating women in 35 districts of 10 regions (UNICEF) - Emergency Interventions Information-Communication Campaign (TV/Radio, Printed Materials)

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA National Efforts to Combat IDD since 1990s 2002 Presidential Decree overriding 1996 Decrees Renewing membership of National Council Drafting Law on Universal Salt Iodization 2003 Draft Law Submitted to Parliament - Banning Import of Non- iodized salt except for Industry, Medical Purposes & Re-Iodization

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Membership of National IDD Council 1996 State Chancellery - Chair of NCIDD Ministry of Health Ministry of Food and Agriculture Ministry of Justice Ministry of Trade & Foreign Econ. Relations Ministry of Education Ministry of Economy Ministry of Finance State Customs Department State Dept. for Standardization, Metrology & Certification 2002 State Chancellery - Chair of NCIDD Ministry of Labour, Health & SA Ministry of Food and Agriculture Ministry of Justice Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry Ministry of Education Ministry of Finance Ministry of Transport & Communication State Dept. for Standardization, Metrology & Certification Ministry of Interior affairs Ministry of State Security Ministry of ENVR/Natural Resources Roles & Responsibilities too General Private Sector not officially included

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Policy and Strategic Framework Guiding National Programmes Government Commitment World Summit For Children World Fit For Children Millennium Development Goals National Health Policy & Strategy What is the Goal? Sustainable Elimination of IDD by 2005 Universal Salt Iodization (USI) by 2005 All Salt for Human and Animal Consumption to be Iodized What Indicators? Household Consumption of Iodized Salt >90% Goiter Prevalence < 5% of the population Adequate Iodine Status - Urine Iodine Excretion > 100 mcg/dl

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA How to Verify Progress & What are Achievement? Salt Situation Analysis in Georgia & 2003 Household Survey on Consumption of Iodized Salt & 2003 Iodine Status among Children Goiter Prevalence among Children and Adults Communication Assessment John Hopkins University

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Progress and Status Findings from Salt Situation Analysis in Georgia 2003 Institute for Polling and Marketing

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Salt Import in Tons Georgia Source: Salt Situation Analysis IPM/UNICEF Customs Data

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Key Findings from 2003 Salt Situation Analysis Iodized Salt mainly imported from Ukraine (96%), also from Greece, Germany, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey & Italy Iodine content not tested at customs level – customs-clearance & registration based on manufacturer’s certificate or State Department of Standardization Wholesale/Retail Quality Control – State Sanitary Inspection No clear articulation of administrative regulations & sanctions for violating packaging, sorting, labeling, transportation & storage standards for iodized salt

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Key Findings from 2003 Salt Situation Analysis Some violation of State Standards for Storage of Iodized Salt observed at various distribution points. Salt Expiry Dates almost always followed. Quality Control systems at Import, Wholesale/Retail Sale needs refinement Lab equipment for salt titration at State Sanitary Department outdated Despite all efforts for legislative framework, no comprehensiveness achieved. Inadequacy of Legislative basis & endorsement;

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Communication on IDD/Iodized Salt IEC campaigns in NCN, Public Health Department, UNICEF No coordinated professional marketing & communication efforts taken. Communication by salt importers not considered profitable given that salt import is no “Big Business”. Communication efforts needed at all levels - decision makers, importers, distributors, Households

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Iodized Salt Prices Range 0.25 to 7.57 GEL Affordability issue is a lesser concern

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Household Consumption of Iodized Salt >90%? Findings from Household Survey 2003 State Department for Statistics

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Availability of Iodized Salt at Household Level Georgia (except Abkhazia and South Ossetia) 1999 – 2003 Source: MICS HH Survey/ UNICEF - SDS 1117 Households

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Availability of the Iodized Salt at the Household Level Georgia (except Abkhazia and South Ossetia) Source: MICS HH Survey UNICEF - SDS

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Awareness of Households on Iodine Deficiency Republic of Georgia (except Abkhazia and South Ossetia) 2003 Source: 2003 HH Survey UNICEF - SDS Georgia From 67% in 1998

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Main Source of Information on Iodine Deficiency Republic of Georgia (except Abkhazia and South Ossetia) 2003

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Some Other Findings What do you do to prevent Iodine Deficiency? 67.9% who knows about Iodized Salt can buy it in areas where they live 61.2% households are buying iodized salt monthly Each household spends 10-11GEL/year for purchasing salt.

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA If you have a choice which salt would you buy?

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Motivation for choosing iodized vs. Non-IS

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA IDD Prevalence Data Findings from National Center of Nutrition 1. Urine Iodine Excretion data among children Goiter Prevalence among children and adults

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Urine Iodine Excretion Children Aged 1-15 Source: NCN, 2001 UIE Median Children 67 mcg/dl Tbilisi Data 2003

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Goiter Prevalence – Adult Population Source: National Center for Nutrition, Georgia * 2003 Data - Referral

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Goiter Prevalence – Child Population Source: National Center for Nutrition, Georgia 2003* - Referral Data

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA IDD Impact on Mental Development IDD PROBLEM PYRAMID IQ Reduction by 10-15% 13.5 IQ Points in Average

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Future Challenges Summary of Recommendations Political Commitment Re-establishment of Effective Coordination Council/Committee/Task Force Clear delineation of roles/responsibilities & mandates Commitment from local governments - sub-national level advocacy Legislation Endorsement by Parliament Banning Import of Non-Iodized Salt Articulating clearly administrative & sanction regulations

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Future Challenges Summary of Recommendations Establishment of a strong monitoring system for Quality Control of Iodized Salt at all levels From Import to Household Level Continuation of Communication & Awareness raising on IDD/USI Research-Based Strategy with Experts - Refer to SitAn, HH Survey Intersectoral Partnership – Health, Education, Private, Youth, NGOs Increase networking with main Salt Importers Exploring school based IEC and monitoring activities Identification & Focus on Pockets with high IDD prevalence

UNICEFPARTNERSHIP FOR IDD/USI IN GEORGIA Eliminating IDD in Georgia by 2005? Reaching 38% of Children & Adults Affected by IDD 24% of Population Not Aware on IDD 33% of Families Not Using Iodized Salt STILL