A child being evaluated for malnutrition
In 2009, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame declared emergency action against malnutrition after visiting a rural health center. Subsequently, the Rwanda Ministry of Health conducted a nationwide survey of children under five to determine the extent of malnutrition. After surveying an astounding 78% of the nation’s children under five, the Ministry found approximately 1.5% of the children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF (http://www.unicef.org/
MANA (Mother Administered Nutritive Aid, http://www.mananutrition.org) plans to establish RUTF production in Rwanda by the end of 2010 to serve at least 20,000 children per year. RUTF is part of the globally-endorsed protocol for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition as detailed in a joint statement by the World Health Organization, World Food Programme, UNICEF, and the UN System Standing Committee on Nutrition. A six-week regimen of RUTF has proven highly effective in treating children with severe acute malnutrition.
Bret Raymond, MANA co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, commented, "We are very thankful for this generous commitment. RUTF is a critical component of Rwanda's National Nutrition Protocol, and we're excited to support the Ministry of Health's plans and activities for improving the health and nutritional status of many children. We look forward to participating in the amazing story of Rwanda."
While the $250,000 commitment moves MANA much closer to Rwanda, additional funding is still needed. "We are working to raise an additional $500,000 for the start-up and operational costs," Raymond remarked. "This is a sustainable business venture with many social benefits. Over three years, we aim to serve at least 60,000 children with RUTF, create several jobs, and support local agricultural production. In the long-run, we expect to see a significant decrease in malnutrition rates in Rwanda as we, together with many others across several fields, work to address the root causes of malnutrition."
For more information, please visit the MANA website at http://www.mananutrition.org.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
