Comparative analysis of progress on the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Summit for Children established an objective in 1990 for the global elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) by the year 2000. A mid-decade target for universal salt iodization was adopted to accomplish this objective. Consequently, a worldwide action plan has been initiated to promote programmes to overcome IDD. The information presented in this document has been assembled from questionnaires completed by nutrition counterparts at ministries of health in the participating countries regarding information on IDD prevalence rates and programmes to combat them. This document provides a useful tool to assess the current IDD situation in Europe and its sub-regions and the steps taken by governments to solve the problem. WHO, the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) encourage and support national authorities in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the policies relating to elimination of IDD from the world. Policy-makers are encouraged to use this report as a tool for measuring the level of implementation of the global goal for elimination of IDD by 2000.