25th May of Every year is observed as World Thyroid Day all over the world, established in 2008 as a part of the campaign led by European Thyroid Association (ETA) and the American Thyroid Association(ATA) followed by Latin American Thyroid Society(LATS) and Asia Oceania Thyroid Association (AOTA) to commemorate the patients with Thyroid diseases and doctors and physicians who treats them.
The annual events and programs of this day around the world cannot be held this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Background:
i.The Main objective of the WTD is to spread awareness about the importance of Thyroid and the prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases.
ii.In September 2007, the members of Thyroid Federation International chose May 25th on which few Scandinavian countries observed national thyroid awareness day and decided to celebrate the first World Thyroid Day in 2008.
iii.The United Nations did not accept the request sent by the TFI to enlist WTD in the “World … Days.”
Major Goals of World Thyroid Day:
- Create awareness on Thyroid health.
- Promote the advancement made in treating thyroid disease
- Education and prevention programs on thyroid disease
- awareness of new treatment modalities
Thyroid:
i.Thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland in the throat produces T3 (Thyroxine) and T4 (Triiodothyronine) and maintained by the Thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)
ii.It regulates metabolism of the body and abnormalities in this may cause dysfunctioning body systems.
iii.The decrease in thyroid hormone causes hypothyroidism (sudden weight gain) and increase in thyroid hormone causes hyperthyroidism
iv.Maintaining proper iodine level in the diet and limiting the usage of raw goitrogenic vegetables will help in avoiding thyroid diseases.
International Thyroid awareness week:
i.InApril 2009, at the press conference of 11th European Congress of Endocrinology, Istanbul the TFI decided to create the International Thyroid awareness week following World Thyroid Day after the discussion with Merck-Serono(Science and Technology company involved in design and development of medicine and intelligent devices)
ii.The first International Thyroid Awareness Week was observed from 25 May 2009 to 31st May 2009
About ATA:
President- Martha Zeiger
Executive Director- Amanda Perl
Founded- 1923
Headquarters- City of Virginia
About ETA:
President- Laszlo Hegedus
Secretary- Leonidas Duntas
Founded- May 25th 1965
Headquarters- Germany
