"Rid Ghana of non-iodized salt"- Prof Lartey

Bunso (E/R), June 13, GNA - Prof Bennett Lartey, Director of the Plant Genetic Research Institute, has drummed-up the need for plans to rid Ghana of non-iodized salts to save many children who are born each year with irreparable mental disorders.

Addressing traditional rulers, salt traders and health volunteers at a workshop on the importance of iodated salt at Bunso on Thursday, Prof Lartey described as "unacceptable" a situation whereby many children are born with permanent brain damage owing to the failure to use iodated salts. "Taking iodized salt prevents several defects in both adults

and infants, including unborn babies," he said Prof Lartey said if people persisted in using non iodated salts

brain defects in adults and infants, liver problems, kidney disorders,

stunted growth or cretinism shall continue to afflict people. The workshop, which is under the aegis of the Church of

Christ, was organized in conjunction with the ministries of Health and Local Government. He said studies had shown that goitre, a common iodine

disorder in Ghana, was the result of insufficient iodine in the body. Other manifestations of iodine deficiency are reduced skeletal growth,

commonly called 'adadewa' in the Akan lexicon and sexual immaturity. Mr Kweku Quansah, Programme Officer in charge of Food

and Water at the Ministry of Local Government, said statistics showed

that nearly 120,000 children were suffering some form of mental

impairment in Ghana owing to iodine deficiency. Mr Franklin Boafo, who is leading the Church of Christ Volunteer

Project in the Eastern Region, appealed to Ghana's development partners

to support the church's bid to disseminate health related information in rural areas. He said with ignorance thriving in many parts of the Eastern Region, it

was through such social mobilization that superstitious beliefs might be weakened. Mr Bismarck Sarkodie, Eastern Regional Nutrition Officer, said

globally one billion people are at risk of iodine disorder and appealed to

Ghanaians to support government's efforts to eradicate the disease.