Facts to Consider

• Locally produced salt has a poor quality.
• The traditional production methods result in the production of salt that is hygroscopic and unsuitable for iodization.
• Because of high particulate content, Haitian consumers typically wash the salt that they buy in the marketplace, washing away any iodine before the salt is consumed.
• Ponds in urban areas are surrounded by heavily polluted areas with serious solid waste management problems.
• The quality of salt produced by functioning single pond operations appeared to be low.
• High magnesium and particulate content in the local salt.
• The salt industry in Haiti has a fragmented nature.
• There is a lack of capital from local producers.

The Need for a Local Salt Fortification Plant

• Salt is the most commonly used vehicle for iodine supplementation. Consumption of iodized salt is a well-established and safe public health measure for prevention and elimination of iodine deficiency.
• A salt fortification plant will be built in the area.
• Capacity of production: 43,000 tons/year iodized salt for national consumption.
• Potential income: over 10 million dollars a year.

The salt business assumes a crucial part of the worldwide battle against Iodine Deficiency Disorders by creating iodized salt. The current salt plants frequently splash potassium iodide or potassium iodate onto the salt while it moves along a transport line before it is packed. In some cases, iodine is included as a dry additive and physically blended with the salt. For the most part, iodized salt contains 0.002% to 0.004% iodine, provided either as potassium iodide or potassium iodate.

Sustainable Elimination of Iodine Deficiency: Progress since the 1990 World Summit for Children. 2008

• Only 2.4% of the households have access to adequately iodized salt.
• About 7 million people are at risk of iodine deficiency diseases
• Each year 25,000 newborns are unprotected from brain damage caused by iodine deficiency.
• Iodine deficiency is the single most common causes of preventable mental retardation and brain damage in the world.
• It also decreases child survival, causes goiters, and impairs growth and development.
• Iodine deficiency in pregnant women causes miscarriages, stillbirths, and other complications.
• Children with IDD can grow up stunted, apathetic, mentally retarded, and incapable of normal movements, speech, or hearing. Globally, 2.2 billion people (38% of the world’s population) live in areas with iodine deficiency and risks its complications.
• The Leogane area is one of the most intense areas of transmission for Lymphatic Filariasis in the western hemisphere with 50% prevalence of infection in the adult population.
• Children in this area also suffer from moderate-to-severe iodine deficiency

Help us to eradicate iodine deficiency. Talk to us today at 786-319-2474 for more information.