From cretinism to college
-in a generation

The story of Kamidi: A Father of Two

Java, Indonesia: Kamidi, a farmer on the Indonesian island of Java, was born severely iodine deficient and suffered from a severe form of mental and physical retardation known as cretinism. Aided by injections of concentrated iodine, a relatively costly method of correcting iodine deficiency, he became more energetic and communicative and his mental capacity improved. He married Gina, who, like him, received treatment for severe iodine deficiency. They now have two sons, who were born without any signs of iodine deficiency. The elder son, Rame, now attends college. He hopes to use a degree in chemistry to help solve health problems like cretinism.