India's Salt Reduction Revolution: Community Initiative Targets Public Health Crisis
The Indian Council of Medical Research has launched a Community-led Salt Reduction initiative to tackle excessive salt intake in India, which far exceeds WHO guidelines. The project aims to promote low-sodium salt alternatives and raise awareness through community counseling and public campaigns.
- Country:
- India
The Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), has embarked on an ambitious project to reduce India's high salt intake that surpasses the World Health Organisation's recommended daily limit of 5 grams.
Research indicates that Indians consume an average of 9.2 grams of salt daily in urban settings, and 5.6 grams in rural areas, posing risks such as hypertension and heart disease. ICMR-NIE's focus is on educating communities about low-sodium salt substitutes, which can mitigate these health issues.
Under a three-year intervention in Punjab and Telangana, the initiative provides structured salt reduction counseling at Health and Wellness Centres. Initial findings show limited availability of low-sodium salt, prompting a social media campaign to increase demand and awareness. If successful, these efforts could revolutionize public health approaches nationwide.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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