This is a tremendous accomplishment. It means that children are smarter. It means they are finishing school. It means a world of new opportunities is open to them.
Iodine deficiency affects intelligence and the ability to learn.
It is the world's single greatest cause of preventable severe mental retardation. This has serious implications, not only for individuals, but also for the social and economic development of entire nations. The second is to sustain the progress already achieved. In many countries of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, iodization rates have dropped dramatically in recent years. This experience has taught us that we cannot be complacent.