Miracle Food Called “Plumpynut”
June 15, 2009A Life Saver Called “Plumpynut”
Anderson Cooper Reports On A Nutritional Breakthrough
June 22, 2008
Anderson Cooper, a reporter for CBS news, reported a great news about miraculous breakthrough food innovation called “Plumpynut” invented by the Doctors Without Borders. By using peanut butter, powdered milk and sugar with fortificaiton, this food is contributed to a decrease in infant’s mortality rate.
How has this product transformed the miserable living conditions in Niger?
In 2006, Niger has been known as the highest malnutrition area, but currently, thanks to an improved distribution of Plumpynut, Niger has become a region with the lowest rate of infant death. Also, it is convenient to use and store because this food does not need to be stored in the refrigerator or to be mixed with water. With regard to nutritional values, each serving delivers nutrition, which is approximately equivalent to a glass of milk. When distributing Plumpynut, volunteer doctors closely monitored weight and height to watch closely for malnutrition of children as malnutrition could make children more vulnerable to diseases. Plumpynut has strengthened children’s previously weak immune system.
Based on the article, in Niger, one in five children would die before the age of five due to malnutrition and 50 % of survived children would experience stunted growths compared to healthy children in affluent countries. However, Doctors Without Borders transformed the sad statistics by making poverty and malnutrition a history.
I was very delighted to know the success stories of compassionate and devoted doctors. Doctors say that a huge amount of capital is not required to save them. Rather, with a little more of budget directed towards a mass production of fortified products, they say that we can make a huge difference. I think that we, as more privileged individuals with abundant resources in hand, do owe duty to the unfortunate who much rely on our help to survive for only a certain period of time.
I hope that influential and leader entities including governments or commercial giants in developed countries would open their eyes to see desperate needs and stand up for their basic rights to food and shelter.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/19/60minutes/main3386661.shtml
This Plumpynut is a very interesting product and its great that it fixes malnourishment in children, but unless I am mistaken, this product may still not be enough nutrients for the adults. Although it is great that kids will have enough nutrients to survive and grow properly but what will happen when they become adults? This product is definitely a step in the right direction though, even if it only benefits kids.