Salt Iodization Means Good Health for Millions of Children

A regional meeting of salt producers from Central and Eastern Europe, CIS and the Baltic States has been held in Kiev. It was organized by the respective UNICEF Regional Offices jointly with the UNICEF Representative Office in Kiev and Moscow and the Ukrainian Ministry for Families and Youth.

About 100 salt producers, dealers, importers and government representatives from 24 countries discussed the salt industry's key role in securing children's right to the elimination of iodine deficiency.

Iodine deficiency is the world's most widespread cause of mental disability and mental activity disturbance, which can be prevented. During pregnancy iodine deficiency in food products exerts a destructive influence - it is able to mentally derange an embryo. Iodinated salt consumption is the safest and easiest way to be protected against mental disability.

In most parts of the developed world, the iodine deficiency problem has been solved exactly through the salt iodization method, but regrettably the regions of Central and Eastern Europe, the CIS and Baltic States have fallen behind the rest and only 15 per cent of the total amount of common salt is being iodized.

"Taking the responsibility to iodis salt in Central and Eastern Europe, in the CIS and Baltic States, the salt producers could save 25 million children up to the age of 5 from the risk of brain damage due to iodine deficiency", - UNICEF Regional Director Mr. John Donohue remarked at the meeting.

Participants discussed the universal salt iodization implementation strategy for the year of 2000, and approved the declaration project in which they confirmed their will to achieve jointly the set aims.

Women in Transition

 A press conference given by UNICEF Executive Director Ms. Carol Bellamy took place in Geneva on September 22. It was dedicated to the publication of the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre report titled "Women in Transition." The report analyses statutes and rights pertaining to women and children in Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR after the collapse of the communist system.

After the press conference, the UNICEF Executive Director gave, via satellite, an interview especially for Russia - to the "Night Flight" programme, which aired that day on the "TV- Centre Channel" for a potential audience of 100 million in 57 Russian regions. Ms. Carol Bellamy covered some problems that Russian women are facing during the transition to free market economy, sharing her experience of achieving her desired goals. The UNICEF Executive Director's interview opened the "Night Flight" programme, which was dedicated fully to the UNICEF report. Programme presenter Mr. Andrei Maximov and his guest - renowned playwright and defender of women's rights, Ms. Maria Arbatova, concentrated on the problems of women's employment. During the last five years, about 7 million women became unemployed while, at the same time, from 1 million to 2 million men lost their jobs. They also paid a lot of attention to such pressing problem as violence in the family - the way to prevent it and aiding the psychological rehabilitation of its victims.

The show then held an interactive opinion poll in live broadcast, initiated by the UNICEF Representative Office in Russia. The viewers answered a question concerning the violation of women rights - and were asked where in their opinion does it most frequently occur - in the labour market, receiving alimony below a living wage or in the family (including sexual assault). About 40 people of more than 100 who have called during the 27 minutes of air time voted for the first and the third situations. The UNICEF report presentation was also broadcast live on "Radio Russia."