PURPOSE: The Micronutrient Initiative (MI), an international secretariat based in Ottawa, Canada, and a leading participant in global efforts to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) through salt iodization, in partnership with UNICEF, WHO, ICCIDD, Kiwanis, PAMM and others, has decided to compile and distribute this CD-ROM during Salt 2000. This CD is designed to be a Resource Kit, or a compilation of a range of very current information (mainly published in hard copy or available on the Internet since 1995) on various aspects of, but not restricted to, salt iodization - such as IDD, iodization technology, monitoring, suppliers of products and technology, medical issues, key players, regulations etc. - which could be of interest to a wide audience drawn from industry, international organizations, governments, NGOs and the public. The MI intends to post the contents of this CD, along with updates and additional features, on its web site (http://www.micronutrient.org) following Salt 2000. This CD presents the successes to date in overcoming IDD, as well as the challenges and opportunities that still remain in order to achieve long term sustainability in IDD intervention strategies. To learn more about the MI and its activities in overcoming IDD and other effects of micronutrient malnutrition, click on the About the Micronutrient Initiative tile.

CONTENTS: The CD Structure gives a snapshot of what is in the CD. The Introduction gives a brief overview of salt iodization, IDD and the global campaign to overcome it. In the Introduction section one can click on,

The Introduction leads to the three main subject areas of the CD:

A brief description of the three main subject areas follows.

1. Useful Technical Information & Link

2. Key Organizations
This section provides brief introductions to six key organizations involved in USI and IDD worldwide - UNICEF, WHO, ICCIDD, MI, Kiwanis and PAMM - and provides links to their web sites (and those of other organizations they are working with on IDD related activities), to access a vast quantity of information on their activities in USI, IDD and other fields. The Kiwanis section features a slide show presentation on the Kiwanis' global IDD campaign.

3. Salt Industry
One section provides general information (and web links) about Salt Producers and their industry associations, and about Iodine Producers. The segment on Iodine Producers includes a valuable link to the leading producers from Japan and Chile, where one can even request a price quotation for specific iodine compounds used in IDD intervention. This section includes an Iodine Industry Overview prepared annually by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as well as links to their web site, where more detailed information can be accessed. The Global Directory of Micronutrients Manufacturers, commissioned by the MI in 1997, and to be updated in the near future, is included to provide a partial list of suppliers of iodine compounds used in IDD intervention

Complementing the industry section is the one on the Salt 2000 Program & Papers, which includes the Conference Technical Program, copies of papers to be presented (courtesy of Elsevier), and reports from regional preparatory meetings held in Kiev, Bogota and Mombasa. Information on the Kiev and Bogota meetings were extracted from CDs issued by meeting organizers and contain valuable information about the regional production capacities and about salt iodization and packaging technologies.

NOTE: This CD-ROM is not designed to be the ultimate reference source on USI or IDD. The full text segments have a limited search capability. It does however serve as a window to a vast array of web based sources, and should therefore be best viewed while connected to the Internet.
The Micronutrient Initiative expects to post the contents of this CD on its web site soon after the Salt 2000 conference and welcomes comments and suggestions about this CD.