72 The percentage of all households in developing countries now consuming adequately iodized salt is 72.
A World Fit for Children Goal : Sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders by 2005.
Iodine deficiency is the world’s single greatest cause of preventable mental retardation.
Seventy-two per cent of all households in developing countries now consume adequately iodized salt. However, less than half of all households in Eastern and Southern Africa consume adequately iodized salt, indicating that the greatest need for enhanced programmatic efforts is in this region.
About 41 million newborns a year remain unprotected from the enduring consequences of brain damage associated with iodine deficiency.
Source: UN_Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), other national household surveys and UNICEF, 2003-2008
