Huambo – The Technical Commission for salt iodation and control of diseases caused by iodine deficiency in central Huambo province will reinforce its awareness in the communities this year, with a view to fighting goitre that is till prevalent in some districts.

The awareness on iodised salt will be done through talks and demonstrations on iodised and non-iodised salt in schools and communities, said the coordinator of the technical commission, Salomão Ernesto. 

The Huambo districts of Londuimbali, Bailundo and Mungo, are seen as the most affected by goitre, with a total of 1,343 cases, 932 of which affecting women feared to have taken non-iodised salt.

In 2008, under the goitre fighting campaigns, the technical commission iodised 15,550 kilograms of salt.

The consumption of non-iodised salt causes goitre, cretinism, child mental growth deficiency, infant death, congenital abnormalities, abortion, still born and poor school performance.

Salomão Ernesto appealed to the people to check the salt for iodine before using it.