Strategies for Salt Reduction in Australia

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Problem statement
Globally, the issue of high blood pressure has risen to great level, which is associated
with cardiovascular disease and ischemic heart disease to 62% and 49% respectively (WHO,
2002). Due to above-stated reason, it requires universal effort to give guidance for maintaining
diet that will focus on lower intake of sodium. According to report of world health which got
published by WHO in 2002, the best cost-effective method to lower the risk of cardiovascular
disease is to implement strategies to lower the sodium intake by the growing population globally
(WHO, 2002). In the year 2003, a practical report by WHO and FAO of United Nations
highlighted that daily intake of sodium should not be more than 5 gram by the peoples (WHO,
2003).
Federal government of Australia, in the year 2013, set a goal to lower the intake of
sodium (salt) worldwide by 30 % by 2025. The objective was one of the nine targets of the
United Nation that focused on diminishing the incidence of non-communicable disease (NCD)
by 25% by 2025 (World Health Organization, 2008). Cardiovascular disease among the NCDs is
the primary reason for high mortality rate than other combined causes (World Health
Organization, 2008). In 2012, Out of three dead, one death was because of cardiovascular disease
in Australia and ischemic heart disease followed by the cerebrovascular disease is another reason
for high death rates (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018; Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012).
It is evident from the study that by lowering the intake of sodium, blood pressure will
also get reduced which links with reduction in premature deaths due to heart stroke and disease
(He & MacGregor, 2008). Further, it can be said that the most cost-effective way to reduce

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problem of NCDs is to lower the salt intake in Australia and worldwide (World Health
Organization, 2011; Cobiac, Magnus, Barendregt, Carter & Vos, 2012).
Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH)
AWASH got recognized in the year 2005, demonstrated on cash of UK and affiliated
with World Action on Salt and Health (WASH). In 2005, WASH was established, is a global
association with motive to improvise the population health by targeting worldwide reduction of
the salt intake (WASH, 2014). In the year 2007, a campaign ‘DROP THE SALT” was launched
by AWASH to influence the government to construct a strategy for reduction of national salt.
VicHealth salt reduction partnership
A health promotion foundation of the which is situated in the Victoria called VicHealth
resides about 6 millions of peoples and 1/4th of which is Australian population. VicHealth has
recognized public health benefit and established the partnership at state level to lessen the
population salt intake (Webster et al., 2015). In 2015, an action plan was to be launched that
intends to work in association with the food industry, government and NGO, public of Victoria
with aim to develop share word to salt strategies. This comprises of initiatives to include
Victorian's view on high level of sodium in foods. It also includes to support leadership and
governmental policy; working with partners of food industry to search new solutions for
lowering the salt in foods and a platform to observe and analyses the progression of the
initiatives (Webster et al., 2015).
Solution generation- description of initiative
In the year 2014, at The George Institute, WHO Collaborating Centre for Population Salt
Reduction prepared a study on “A Case for State action on salt in Australia – evidence and

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opportunities for action” majorly for the VicHealth promotion foundation. According to the
report and its recommendation, VicHealth is headed as the taskforce for reduction of salt and
device five key steps to lower the salt intake in Victoria; those steps are as follows:
1. To construct partnership
2. To promote public awareness regarding significance of salt reduction and its behaviour.
3. To reinforce federal and state policies to build supportive atmosphere to lower the salt
consumption.
4. To develop new approach to involve the food industry to lower the salt in the food.
5. To undertake new research monitoring and its examination to regulate the influence of
the initiative.
In the logic model, reflects the work of the intervention components, its interaction and
pathways to attain the low salt intake in Victoria. VicHealth and the Heart Foundation are the
leaders for implementing such interventions, with support from groups.
Strategic Partnership
The first part of the strategy focused on the state-level association to lower the salt by
mounting a strategic partnership. This included involving the non-governmental organizations
(NGO), organization concerned to health, government and academia and recognizing opportunity
for organizing and assimilating efforts to lower the salt intake into the current initiatives. An
association of the nine organizations gives guidance regarding strategic intervention, with the
collaboration of another group.