KATHMANDU: The Salt Trading Corporation (STC) is all set to celebrate the month of February as the 'iodine month' beginning from Friday.

The move aims to promote consumption of iodised salt and control diseases caused by iodine deficiency like goiter, said the STC.

The STC has been observing February as iodine month since 1998.

The country is relieved of goiter at present, with the number of people suffering from the disease declining to 0.4 per cent in 2007, in comparison to 44 per cent in 1985, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The STC has made iodised salt available all over the country through its branches.

According to a 2016 survey, 95 per cent of children below five years of age consume iodised salt.

The government aims to increase the number of people consuming iodised salt to 95 percent by 2018.