Iodine-deficiency disorders: lessons of history and time to make decisions

Abstract

There are several lessons from the history of IDD control in the USSR that are of relevance for future IDD control programs in Russia and beyond. Sustainability of such programs is based on several pillars, including: Existence and rigorous enforcement of legislation or other legal acts regulating mandatory iodization of salt for human consumption; An effective monitoring system to track production, distribution and quality of iodized salt, as well as impact education, information and communication activities to ensure that IDD would not become a "forgotten" problem as happened in Russia at the end of the XX century.