Over 71 million people in the country are suffering from goitre and other iodine-deficiency disorders, health minister J P Nadda informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The government plans to bring down the prevalence of the deficiency to below 5% by 2017 by ensuring 100% consumption of adequately iodised salt at the household level, Nadda added. “In order to prevent and control IDD, government is implementing centrally-assisted National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme in the country under National Health Mission for the entire population,” the minister said.

There has been a significant reduction in goitre prevalence in all the states. As per the National Family Health Survey-III (2005-06) and Coverage Evaluation Survey Report, 2009, the consumption of adequately iodated salt has significantly increased at community level, he said. tnn