OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY     DOCTOR CALLS PEOPLE TO USE IODIZED SALT   A doctor from the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of the municipality of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay advised people to use only iodized salt duly inspected and checked by the health department to have a greater chance of avoiding a sickness which can result to the abnormal growth of the neck area of a person commonly known as goiter. Dr. Ramil Ignacio, Medical Officer IV of MHO-Ipil and a licensed surgeon, said this in an interview on Monday, January 16, in relation to the Goiter Awareness Month celebration of the government. According to Ignacio, people should be aware of the healthy tips, do’s and don’ts to have greater chances of preventing themselves from being hit by the said disease. “We have to be aware about these kind of sickness for us to get greater chances of avoiding it in the future and for us to maintain a healthy lifestyle during our lifetime”, said Ignacio. Ignacio stated that the use of iodized salt would equip a person with enough iodine in his/her system to keep the balance in the body’s complicated system. One of the reasons why a person is affected with goiter is the lack or deficiency in iodine. “Lack of iodine or the insufficiency of it may cause a person to be affected by goiter so the best thing to do is consume or use iodized salts in their daily meals”, added Ignacio. Another tip that Ignacio shared is the consumption of sea foods like fish, shellfish (kinhason), shrimps and the like as a means of keeping oneself from having goiter. “Sea foods are also great means of preventing oneself from getting the disease”, Ignacio shared. However, Ignacio also commented that his advice were just preventive measures and does not really mean that a person using and consuming iodized salt and always eating sea foods will not acquire or get goiter in his/her lifetime. Ignacio further added that goiter is sometimes hereditary and other cases are acquired. “We will not be harmed if we will follow the advice of our experts. Though we are not definitely sure that we can evade the disease but we can try preventive measures to have greater chances of not getting affected or hit by goiter”, stressed Ignacio. Goiter is the term used to describe the thyroid gland which has become enlarged. There are many conditions leading to its enlargement namely, iodine deficiency, autoimmune disease, inflammation, new growth and other causes. Due to iodine deficiency, goiter can be prevented by the appropriate intake of food rich in iodine and by the regular use of iodized salt. The MHO-Ipil supervised by the town’s health officer, Dra. Adnilre Verzon, is conducting regular inspections and monitoring on different establishments and stores selling iodized salts in the municipality to ensure that their products are safe from consumption and are considered genuine and authentic by the health department.