Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) Control Project

Most accurately described as a programme of multiple activities than one of focused intervention, the project emphasis was on facilitating commitment, attitude change, and capacity-building. Working mainly at national level with central policy and programme bodies and organisations, principal strategies for the project included:

• supporting development of a national industry standard for salt;
• creating formal and informal salt monitoring systems, including development and promotion of salt testing kits for use by schools and communities;
• assessing capacities/technologies of salt producers;
• introducing knowledge of IDD and USI at grass-roots levels, especially through schools - The "Smart Salt for Smart Children" concept was used to link iodised salt and development of children's intelligence. Also, organisers connected the Indonesia Teachers Association (PGRI) in a partnership with the Ministry of Education, at both national and provincial levels, to integrate IDD/USI messages into regular teacher training activities; and
• facilitating coordination and knowledge of local/national salt committees.

Nutrition.

According to organisers, between 1990 and 1994: 14% of Indonesia's infants were born with low birth weight; 35% of those under the age of 5 were moderately to severely underweight; and 32% under age 5 suffered from protein energy malnutrition.