India Gives Neighboring Nepal Rs. 30 Million to Combat Iodine Deficiency Disorders

India has handed over Nepali Rs. 51.75 million (Indian Rs. 30 million) to neighboring Nepal towards the Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program 2014-15 in the Himalayan nation. At a program in Kathmandu, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae handed over a cheque for the amount to Nepal Minister of Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa for execution of the project which is carried out by the state-owned Salt Trading Corporation of Nepal.

The memorandum of understanding for the program, earlier known as the goiter control program, was signed on August 3, 2014, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal. According to the Indian embassy in Nepal, India has been supporting Nepal for the goiter control program since 1973 in the form of subsidy for re-iodization of salt, packing, transportation and advocacy.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder - Causes - NIDDCP Launch - Objectives - NIDDCP Executed - FAQs
To control IDD, the ‘National Goiter Control Program (NGCP)’ was launched which was later renamed as the ‘National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Program (NIDDCP)’.

An impact study commissioned by India indicated that the program has been successful in nearly eradicating visible goiter and reducing the incidence of other iodine deficiency disorders in Nepal. The embassy added that all 75 districts of Nepal have benefited from this program.

Source-IANS

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