PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Assessments of urinary mineral status from the 1960s until 2014 have revealed iodine deficiency among the Lebanese population. Iodine is an essential micronutrient needed for cognitive, neurological, mental, and psychomotor development in children and for the regulation of the body’s metabolism. The current salt iodization program in Lebanon does not seem to guarantee adequate iodine intake and, consequently, normal iodine status in the population.
This project defined and contextualized this policy issue, and developed and disseminated a policy brief in collaboration with the Nutrition Department at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and the Knowledge to Policy Center (K2P). A policy dialogue was conducted with relevant stakeholders – including the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Industry, the salt industry, UNICEF, WHO, the Iodine Global Network, and academics – in order to develop a recommended set of actions to accelerate the universal salt iodization program, achieve optimal iodization levels in salt and ensure coverage of salt iodization in Lebanon.
TEAM
Investigators
- Hala Ghattas (PI), Associate Research Professor and Interim Director, CRPH
- Omar Obeid (PI), Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Chaza Akik (co-PI), Research Associate, CRPH
- Fadi El Jardali (co-PI), Knowledge to Policy Center
- Michael Zimmerman (co-PI), The Iodine Global Network
Research Team
- Carla Al-Mallah, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
RESEARCH TIMELINE
2015-2016
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