Dr Izzeldin Hussein gave a very good presentation on the situation in Sudan today, at London Metropolitan University’s Graduate Centre.
Dr Hussein told us of the need for careful and expert assessment of people’s needs before applying a “one size fits all” attempt at a remedy – surely a lesson that can be applied in any situation.
In an attempt to address the deficiency of iodine, a generous quantity of iodised salt has been provided in many areas, including by the Red Sea, and in the Nile Valley, where his research has been carried out.
Whilst this has resulted in an optimum level of iodine intake in the Nile Valley, the people by the Red Sea now have too much iodine in their diet, and many are developing goitres as their body attempts to deal with the onslaught of this potent nutrient.
In order to overcome and prevent this, he says, it is essential to carry out a baseline assessment of people’s iodine intake before supplementing their diet, so that they can be given as much as they need, and no more.
via Phil Culmer.
Update:
We now have a copy of Dr Hussein’s report on his work in the United Arab Emirates, where similar problems were all but eliminated by the careful assessment of people’s needs, and measured supplimentation was provided.
If you’d like to study it, you can download a copy here: UAE National Urinery Survey 2009.
