Press Release | 24 May 2021

The Department of Health (DOH) joins the rest of the world in observing the International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) and World Thyroid Day (WTD) 2021, with the theme “Mother-Baby-Iodine: The Importance of Iodine on the Woman and her Baby”, which aims to raise awareness on Iodine Deficiency Disorders on women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and lactating mothers, and on children during their first 1000 days of life from conception.

Non-communicable diseases are not only limited to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, but also include neglected diseases like thyroid disorders relative to iodine deficiency. According to the 2018 National Nutrition Survey, iodine deficiency still exists among elderly, lactating mothers and pregnant women. The extent and consequences of iodine deficiency disorders on women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and lactating mothers, are known to affect children during their first 1000 days of life from conception.

As part of the national observance of ITAW and WTD, the DOH in collaboration with different agencies and specialty societies will be conducting a week-long webinar lecture series to promote disease awareness on iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders in women and children. The campaigns are joined by international organizations such as World Health Organization, Thyroid Federation International, Iodine Global Network and Asia & Oceania Thyroid Association.

ITAW is observed every 4th week of May of every year, while WTD is observed every May 25th, as declared by the 11th European Congress of Endocrinology in April 2009.