Three Million Suffer from IDD in Western Oromia Alone
Oromo Affairs - April 22, 2008

"I have never seen any other country like this. If this problem continues, a generation will suffer." (Dr. Iqbal Kabir, UNICEF Head of Nutrition and Food Security in Ethiopia)

Dr. Kabir was referring to what he and his colleagues at UNICEF called in their report "A silent epidemic" - Iodine deficiency Disorder (IDD) - in Oromia. He had led a team of UNICEF staff on its second field trip to Western Oromia between April 22nd and 24th, 2007 to investigate the prevalence of IDD in that region and returned "absolutely convinced [that] the situation needs to be intervened without further delay". His team consisted of a communication expert and a nutrition consultant, both from UNICEF. The epidemic had been officially reported to UNICEF by Obbo Mesfin Namrraa - a WAFIDO MP from Najjoo - with a request to assess the situation and provide support. Read More.