Governments at various levels are being urged to step up efforts to promote the consumption of iodine-enriched salt to combat iodine deficiencies in people.

Chen Jixiang, secretary-general of the China Endemic Diseases Society, made the comments on Saturday to promote Iodine Deficiency Prevention Day, which falls today.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, nine provinces and regions on the Chinese mainland did not meet targets for reducing iodine deficiencies by the end of last year, most of which are located in the less developed western regions including Qinghai and Yunnan provinces and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

People with iodine deficiencies are prone to suffer goitre, a swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can also lead to learning disabilities. 

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