MoTCI launched iodized salt
The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry (MoTCI), together with the Ministry of Health and with support from UNICEF and USAID launched, on September 9, the iodized salt product in the Aidabakleten suco, Atabae sub-district, Bobonaro district.
The launching of iodized salt intends to disseminate information on the consumption of iodine in the Atabae community, thus preventing malnutrition and goiter.
The inspector of the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, Luís Inácio Fernandes, said that the MoTCI cooperates with the Ministry of Health to continue to promote the local salt factory and inform the community about its consumption.
Luís Inácio also stressed that MoTCI guarantees the support of this program and intends to expand this initiative to districts with potential for production of iodized salt, especially the districts of Manatuto, Baucau, Manufahi and Covalima. Alongside this initiative, MoTCI strives to find a market for this product when it reaches a larger scale of production.
According to the Vice Minister of Health, Madalena Hanjam, "the Government, regarding the activities of iodized salt production, intendes to diminish goiter disease in Timor-Leste, especially in pregnant women and children". Madalena Hanjam called for the consumption of iodized salt produced locally, especially to pregnant women.
According with data advanced by the Ministry of Health, 90% of the population of Timor-Leste consume salt, but 45% do not consume iodized salt, so goiter and malnutrition are still prevalent in Timor-Leste.
