The acquisition represents a significant milestone for NEOPAY as it aims to expand its presence in the rapidly growing digital payments sector in the Middle East
They, however, warned against the increase in the daily consumption of salt.
Addressing a seminar to declare the UAE free from iodine deficiencies, officials said that a daily intake of adequate iodine could prevent a number of disorders.
The International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) favours consumption of normal amounts of dietary iodine of 150 micrograms per day.
Dr Mahomud Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Polices at the Ministry of Health, speaking on the risks of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), stressed that the major preventable cause of mental retardation in a new-born is iodine deficiency of the mother during pregnancy.
“Each child born with iodine deficiency has a potential irreversible loss of 13 IQ points at birth,” he said.
“The burden to the person, to the family and to the country and economy is enormous. Prevention is to ensure optimal iodine needs are met in the daily diet every day in the most economical, most efficient and scientifically proven delivery system; that is to adequately iodize all edible salt and to ensure universal access to adequately iodized salt at the household level all around the world,” he said. The UAE has committed to eliminate IDD in the country by adopting and implementing a national policy of Universal Salt Iodization (USI) as the major delivery process.
However, a recently undertaken study has revealed that more than half of the salt samples available in the country do not have the adequate amount of iodine.
Dr Izzeldin S Hussein, regional coordinator for the ICCIDD, while stating the reason for implementing the surveillance programme in the country said: “Today the UAE population is a enjoying state of being free of IDD risks.”
A survey has confirmed that 94 per cent of the population is covered as per the international requirements.
The acquisition represents a significant milestone for NEOPAY as it aims to expand its presence in the rapidly growing digital payments sector in the Middle East
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