CEBU CITY, Cebu, January 29 (PIA) --  The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH7) continues to strengthen its campaign for goiter awareness as they urge the public to seek early medical consultation to check their risk of having a goiter.

DOH7 has constantly capacitated the barangay and city health workers and health education promotion officers to disseminate information about goiter as they strongly advocate for goiter prevention in the community through early detection and assessment.

Goiter is a condition where a person experiences irregular growth of the thyroid gland, which is primarily caused by iodine deficiency.

According to the DOH, the prevalence of mild iodine deficiency or goiter incidence in the country is between 5 percent to 20 percent, while the prevalence of those who have moderate iodine deficiency is between 20 percent to 30 percent. 

The most common people who experience the said condition are those who are 40 years old and older.

Globally, there are 2.2 billion people who are affected by goiter or iodine deficiency.

“We have to educate our people, we have to let them know everything about goiter. Part of the mandate of DOH is to educate the public so as to prevent further goiter cases,” said DOH7 Nurse V Ryard Jude Pepito during the Kapihan sa PIA forum organized by the Philippine Information Agency 7 on January 24.

DOH7 has reached the grassroots level in disseminating information about goiter by coordinating with the local government units and implementing several awareness campaigns in various areas of the region.

The health department is also urging the public to consume iodized salt and products bearing the iodine seal. 

“Aron malikayan nga kita makakuha og goiter atong giawhag ang katawhan nga mokaon og mga iodine-rich food. We are informing and encouraging the public nga kung mamalit tag asin, atong paliton katung naay seal kay certified na siya nga naa siyay iodine,” Pepito added.

(We are urging everyone to eat more iodine-rich food. Buy only salt that has the seal certifying that it contains iodine.) 

Goiter Awareness Week  is celebrated every fourth week of January under Presidential Proclamation 1188.

The Kapihan sa PIA in Cebu is held every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and livestreamed over the official Facebook page of Philippine Information Agency Region 7. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)