Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) constitute the single most important preventable cause of mental handicap at global level. Recognizing the importance of coordination and synergy of the activities of wide range of universal salt iodisation (USI) stakeholders, WHO/ Unicef/ ICCIDD has prescribed a national multi-sectoral coalition as one of the ten indicators essential for attaining sustainable elimination of IDD at national level. Challenge for coordination among different stakeholders of IDD/USI is even greater in democratic and diverse country like India. In the present article we present successful experience from India regarding formation of a national coalition and contributions made by the coalition towards promoting USI in India. The activities of the national coalition in India are classified into three phases; 1) Phase 1- year 2006 to 2009- the inception; 2) Phase 2- year 2009 to 2012- consolidation; 3) Phase 3- year 2013 and ongoing- expansion. The National coalition for Sustained Optimal Iodine Intake (NSOI) has been instrumental in ensuring greater coordination and synergy amongst IDD and USI stakeholders in India and partially responsible for the current 71 percentage household level coverage of adequately iodised salt. The most significant contribution of the national coalition has been to act as a high level advocacy channel and provide a platform for regular dialogue for all partners of the coalition. With "mission" approach and allocation of optimal resource, India can achieve and should achieve USI by 2015, an apt culmination of a decade of existence of the national coalition.
碘缺乏失調(IDD)是全球構成智力障礙最重要的單一可預防因素。全面食鹽加 碘(USI) 各個利害關係人，世界衛生組織/聯合國兒童基金會/ICCIDD，認知到 行動協調以及共同合作的重要性。他們已經規劃一個國家級多部門聯盟，當作 國家永續消弭IDD 十項必要的指標之一。在民主及多元的國家如印度，協調 各個碘缺乏失調/全面食鹽加碘利害關係者的挑戰更大。本文，我們呈現印度 全國聯盟組成及共同推動全面食鹽加碘的貢獻的成功經驗。全國聯盟在印度的 行動分成三個階段；1)第一階段 - 2006 至2009 年 - 創始；2)第二階段 -2009 年 至2012 年 - 鞏固；3)第三階段- 2013 年之後 - 擴展。永續最適碘攝取(NSOI)全 國聯盟已確保印度IDD 和全面食鹽加碘的利害關係者有更多的協調及合作， 對目前71%的家戶加碘鹽涵蓋率負部分的責任。全國聯盟最重要的貢獻為扮演 高層級的宣傳管道，並提供給所有聯盟夥伴作例行對話的平台。隨著任務的推 動及最適當的資源配置，印度應可以在全國聯盟成立十年之2015 年前，達到 全面食鹽加碘的目標。