Nutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies
The National Nutritional Surveillance Programme, which generates data about the nutritional status of people in Romania and reports its findings to decision-makers, is reporting high chronic malnutrition rates among children under five, and high rates of anemia, especially in infants and pregnant women. One of the most worrisome indicators has shown that the median Urine Iodine Excretion was far below international standards (64µg/l as opposed to 100µg/l); a 2003 study pointed out that only 53-64% of households used iodized salt. Iodine deficiency can lead to mental development problems, and slower overall development of children. A study of pregnant women revealed that 88% had a lower than normal iodine level, which indicates that the risk to babies born with an iodine deficiency is extremely high. The incidence of low height-for-age has more than doubled from 9% in 1991 to 20% in 2000, with even higher rates in Moldova. The main reason is the decline of the nutritional status among children born after 1993, especially where mothers have a limited education. The weight-for-height indicator shows similar rates to international ones regarding overweight children. ACTION UNICEF supports cost-effective measures that could be successfully implemented and have a widespread national effect. This is the case of the campaign and support provided for the elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD). In 2002 the Romanian Government committed itself to urgently address this issue. A law was adopted in 2004 which makes iodization of table salt and salt used in bakeries mandatory. UNICEF pushed hard for the establishment of the National Committee for the Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and supported the elaboration of the National Strategy on this topic; in 2004, the strategy and the Committee were officially recognized by the Romanian Government. UNICEF is running a national awareness-raising campaign on the importance of using iodized salt, which presents the risks of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and the benefits of iodized salt. Other steps must be taken in this area, especially in terms of coordinating all institutions dealing with the importing, distribution and sale of various salt products, to ensure that all shops have only iodized salt on their counters. At present it is still very difficult to find iodized salt in local shops in rural areas. RESULTS • Thousands of people have become aware of the importance of iodized salt as a result of UNICEF’s national campaign on Iodine Deficiency Disorders, which was developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health and was launched in August 2003. • The National Nutritional Surveillance Programme continued, with financial and technical assistance from UNICEF; it is considered extremely important that sustained monitoring of the nutritional status of children continues in order to develop and adopt the necessary strategies and evaluate their efficiency. • UNICEF assisted in the development of the national project entitled “Health Education in Romanian Schools,” by which 8,000 manuals containing chapters on nutrition and IDD were distributed in the pilot area at the beginning of September 2003.
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