Partnership to Treat Malnourished Children in Haiti

Staff Report/IMA

Through support from local Rotary Clubs, IMA World Health will partner with Meds & Food for Kids (MFK) to pilot an initiative to provide Ready to Eat Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to malnourished children in the Grand Rivere du Nord (GRN) in the North Department of Haiti.

Rod Boudreax, President of the Westminster Rotary Club (at left), IMA World Health Program Officer Ann Varghese and Rotary Club of Bonds Meadow President, Dean Camlin have announced a partnership with Meds & Food for Kids to identify and treat malnourished children in the north of Haiti with a product made of locally grown ingredients.

This will be an added component to the already successful ACCorD program which is managed by IMA World Health.

RUTF is endorsed by the World Health Organization as an effective way to combat malnutrition. This program component will be implemented by ICC (International Child Care) and GRN Hospital staff.

Moderate to severely malnourished children, ages 6 months to 5 years, will be identified by GRN hospital and Nutritional Demonstration Center (NDC) staff to participate in the program and receive the RUTF for 4-8 weeks depending on the severity of the case and speed of recovery.

RUTF is a nutritious, energy dense paste made with Haitian peanuts, milk powder, oil, sugar, and a vitamin/mineral compound.

MFK purchases its main ingredients from Haitian farmers and operates a small factory in the North Department to locally produce the RUTF, meeting all international standards. It does not need to be cooked and can be administered at home by the parent. The product is known locally as Medika Mamba.