SAGADA, Mountain Province (PIA) – The importance of iodine intake and the strict implementation of Republic Act  8172, also known as the Asin Law, were highlighted during the ThyroMobile mission in this mountain resort town.

Only 23 percent of the salt samples brought for WYD iodine checking on April 12 passed the standard quantity of iodine content. The Asin law requires the mandatory iodization of all processed food salts in the country.

Using iodized salt daily for food consumption is recommended to prevent iodine deficiency disorders or IDD, which are commonly manifested as goiter, hypothyroidism, cretinism, decreased fertility rate, and intellectual disability. 

Mountain Province is among the 15 provinces identified by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute with high prevalence of IDD. 

Aside from the quantitative household salt testing, the Thyromobile team conducted thyroid diagnostic procedures,  capacity-building to health care and allied professionals.

The Sagada Municipal Health Office reported that the team provided thyroid diagnostic procedures with 32 clients referred for neck ultrasound, and 99 clients were tested for TSH and FT4 or thyroid function test. The 32 clients who were found out to have abnormal results were further managed and referred to health facilities. 

Dr. Teofilo San Luis, Jr. also demonstrated how to self-check for possible existence of goiter.

The team also conducted  lectures to barangay health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, and rural health midwives,  and taught them neck palpation. 

The local government and residents of Sagada thanked the Iodine Global Network in the Philippines, in partnership with the Philippine Thyroid Association, the Thyroid Federation International, the Rotary Club of University District Manila, the Salinas Food Inc, and Merck, Inc, for bringing the Thyromobile mission to the municipality.  

Glenn C. Khonghun,  Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Salinas Food Inc., shared that the ThyroMobile has  already visited 13  out of the  identified 15 provinces with the highest incidence of IDD in the country.

“We are thankful that they came to check-up on us and we then can tell them what we are feeling, and to listen to their advice so that we can continue to live healthily. We want more activities such as this because this greatly helps  the community and those who are in need,” said  Ciriaco W. Padkiw of Ankileng, Sagada.(JDP/VJLT-PIA Mountain Province)