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Walking down the streets of Rawalpindi, I am always followed by
echoed labels like a Kodoo, dwarf (Bona), shorty etc overshadowing
the well deserved label of “A Cretin”. Yes, the disease, I am
suffering from, is known as Cretinism. Says Mr. Mumtaz Hussain a 28
years old Bakery Door Opener, an unfortunate cretin standing “3”
Feet and ‘2’ inches and a resident of People Colony, Rawalpindi.
Everyday glimpses of my very normal parents always pointed towards
this not being a genetically transformation but on the other hand
short enquiries from the doctors shopping from our bakery always
referred to some deficiency in my or my parent’s nutrition intake.
Until I met a representative of The Micronutrient Initiative (MI)
who took my query to the next level and pointed out the deficiency
of the Iodine Factor.
Investigations with my family members revealed the fact that in my
hometown i.e. Jhang, where I was born and brought up, till to date
people are very reluctant to consume Iodized Salt. Besides knowing
that there is no cure for my disease, still it feels very good to
know that how and what happened to me.
In addition to ensuring an intake of Iodized Salt by my cretin wife
and my 6 months old daughter, I am working as a volunteer for the
Universal Salt Iodization Programme implemented by The Micronutrient
Initiative as an assistance to the Government of Pakistan catering
for the Iodine Deficiency Disorders by creating maximum awareness to
ensure the reduction and elimination of cretins like me from our
society. |
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