Explain how cooperation and collaboration between groups of scientists—the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders includes a number of scientists who work to eliminate the harm done by iodine deficiency.
Explain how cooperation and collaboration between groups of scientists—the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders includes a number of scientists who work to eliminate the harm done by iodine deficiency.
Springs Pacelli 
Iodine Deficiency is the lack of iodine in the body. Iodine is essential in the human body as thyroxine, thyroid hormones and triiodothyronine which contains iodine. If your diet does not consume the required amount of iodine, your body would not be able to produce enough thyroid hormone. The International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders includes a number of scientists who work to eliminate the harm done by iodine deficiency. They used programmes to stop or prevent iodine deficiency by spreading iodised salt globally. The International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders can be broken down into four stages. The first stage is Communication, they needed to communicate with other scientists in order to compare their views towards the research of iodine deficiency. The second stage is Advocacy, this is when they had meetings with other health professionals. They discussed and organised the development of the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency. The third stage is called Implementation, this is the development of national programmes which were regional meetings. The last stage is called Sustainability. This is when the Salt 2000 Meeting in The Hague decided to support the elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders.
Hormones produced by our thyroid need the element iodine for their structure. Without iodine, these hormones can’t be synthesized. Approximately 1/3 of the world’s population resides in areas where there is a deficiency of iodine. Without supplemental iodine, people in these areas can suffer several conditions, including severe brain damage. One solution is to provide these people with iodized salt. This would be simple if it were not for the very large number of people that required the supplement.
An organization called the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD), comprised of a global network of scientists aims to eliminate iodine-deficiency worldwide. It has partnered with WHO and UNICEF in order to achieve its goal. It has also worked collaboratively with a number of salt manufacturing companies in order to establish quality management systems for salt iodization. The ICCIDD maintains communication with its members worldwide to discuss and be informed of the iodine situation in different geographical locations and cultures. By identifying the problems that they need to confront in order to achieve their aim, they come with a plan-of action to combat the iodine issue. The organization then works towards the sustainable elimination of the disorders due to iodine deficiency by providing expertise and technical support to all stakeholders in charge (Health professionals, ministries of health, the food drug industry, communications, etc).
The body responds to stimuli by sending messages or signals from the receptors (which detect the change in the environment) to the effectors. The endocrine system and the nervous system contain organs and cells which are responsible for sending these “signals”; and one of the main type of messages is in the form of a chemical known as:hormones.
Iodine is an essential element as it makes up thyroxin (a hormone) and builds the structures (thyroid gland) which secrete the hormone. Also, the deficiency of iodine would make it very difficult for the body to synthesise hormones which is a serious issue. An estimated 20% of the global population suffer from iodine deficiency which prevents their bodies from: functioning properly, secreting thyroxin, metaboilsing and producing proteins. Therefore, a group of scientists joined to from the ICCIDD (the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders).
The group of scientists attempted to identify the factors that were causing a lack of iodine in the body- quickly, they found out that iodine content in sugar is very low. Therefore, the main objective of the organization is to eradicate or eliminate iodine defficiency by raising awareness and partnering with other organizations. Their main strategy is partnering with salt manufacturers, as this would allow them to increase the amount of iodine in the diet.
This organization would not have progressed immensely if it weren’t for their collaboration with other non-profits and businesses. Some of the organizations they have worked with are: Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, WHO, UNICEF and CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION.
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