Goiter cases up

Goiter cases in Azerbaijan’s 23 provinces have dramatically increased, according to the chairman of the parliament’s commission on social policy Hadi Rajabov.

He said in the Soviet times, as a result of provision of the population of Shaki, Gakh, Zagatal and Oguz provinces with iodine salt, the rate of the disease was more or less under control. Over 1987-2000, the spread of goiter in the mentioned provinces has risen 3-7 times.

Professor of the State Medical University Ibrahim Ahmadov says the examination of schoolchildren in the provinces has discovered that almost all kids (98-100%) suffer from the diseases caused by the shortage of iodine. Goiter rate with schoolchildren elsewhere in Azerbaijan, including Baku and Sumgayit, is 30-40%. The specialist thinks the reason for the outbreak is the shortage of iodine salt, the insufficiency of which in human body leads to children’s mental retardation and general weakness, while adults suffer from goiter and lack of potency.

2 iodine plants, in Baku and Neftechala, built in Azerbaijan in late 30s, are not operating. According to the president of “AzerKimya” state concern Fikrat Sadikhov, the plants are slated for privatization with interested investors already available.*