Population

Population:   10.3 million
Population growth rate:   2.9%
Population < 15 years:   44.1%
Birth rate:   37.5 per 1000
Life expectancy at birth:   62.6 years
Infant mortality:   56.8 per 1000

Prevalence of Goiter/ UIE

Median urinary iodine: <100 mcg/L . 

1970 regional survey in Upper Casamance conducted by ORANA and AFUP of 6,584 6-18 year olds found a goiter rate of 32.0%.

Survey of Tambacounda region found rate of 42.3% in 3,744 6-18 year olds.

1993 survey done by SANAS of 2,630 6-18 year olds in the region of Tamracounda found a prevalence of 51,5%.

1992 survey found 37% goiter in Babel and Kedougou.

One survey reported UI of 9 mcg/L.

A 1997 survey of children in Kounghheul, Bambey, Mekhe, and Kebemer showed 70% had UI < 100 mcg/L.

Iodized salt C overage

Salt Situation Analysis

Production

Senegal produces around 350,000 metric tons of salt every year, more than 80% of which is exported to some 15 countries in Western and Central Africa .  Most of that production comes from numerous small producers of the Lac Rose, the deltas of Sine and Saloum Rivers , and the Gandiol salt marshes. As of 1995, UNICEF was working on organizing the small salt producers to form salt producing cooperatives and will then provide them with iodization plants. These producers also received technical assistance from the Dakar Chamber of Commerce and the NGO - Caritas. In the Ndiemou zone, some 17 villages created an economic group (GIE) of 400 women producers. Each member of this group invested 2.000 CFA (US $4) to support this group. Despite the benefits, there are some constraints which relate to access to the salt producing sites, the actual production process, and marketing. There is in addition a need for warehousing facilities to store the salt and a shelter for the children who accompany mothers to the salt sites. These cooperatives have helped to provide many jobs to the men in these villages who assist in sewing bags, and packaging the salt. For future self-financing purposes, the group has already made plans to allocate a part of their savings to cover future equipment depreciation. The great majority of 1,600 salt producers at Lac Rose are men. The annual salt production amounts to approximately 150,000 metric tons. The lack of organization and the involvement of middle-men between the salt producers and wholesalers do not make salt iodization a particularly lucrative activity for the small producers at this site. Despite the reluctance of these intermediaries and attempts to threaten the small producers, the local authorities and religious leaders helped to organize the producers into cooperatives. (UNICEF USI Update- Vol. 3 - 1995).  One large private producer called "Societe Nouvelle des Salins du Sin-Saloum (SNSS) which produces 160,000 TY. This producer agreed to a one-year trial of salt iodization for 30,000 tons at a minimum cost to the producer for equipment. Part of this salt could be exported to Mali . There are also several small artisanal producers which could provide satisfactory iodized salt for endemic areas.  Follow-up information on these projects is needed.

Consumption

• Estimated daily per capita salt consumption: no data
• Estimated % of all salt consumed by people which is adequately iodized (household level):   31% (2000); 60-70% at production level (1999)

Iodine Procurement and Utilization

Universal Salt Iodization Program

Information, Education, Communication (IEC) Activities

Legislation

• Legislation: Yes, for production and distribution of edible salt. An Interministerial Decree in 1995 stipulated conditions for production and distribution of food-grade iodized salt.
• Legislation for Animals: no data
• Year Enacted: 1994

Program Monitoring and Evaluation

Other Interventions

Iodized oil was used in early 1990's in the highly endemic areas, Water iodization was considered, 1997; no further details.

Key Lessons Learned

Challenges and Constraints

Future Plans for Sustained IDD Elimination

Sources:

IDD NL 16(2):28, 2000

IDD NL 11(4):53, 1995

IDD NL 13(2):22, 1997