US$ 38 million grant for fight against malnutrition
Jan 17, 2008 - 1:13:42 AM
, Reviewed by: Dr. Sanjukta Acharya
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“This grant allows us to mobilize the innovative spirit of the private sector to deliver products that have clear benefits to the health of young children and the bottom line of companies, and that therefore can inspire the private sector worldwide to do more to fight malnutrition,” says Van Ameringen.
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By Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition,
[RxPG] The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) today announces a US$ 38 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to increase private sector engagement in the fight against malnutrition in young children.
GAIN will use the grant to work with private companies and public-private partnerships to introduce nutritious foods for infants and young children between 6 and 24 months of age. GAIN will provide loans, grants and technical advice to help develop and distribute low-cost, easy-to-use, nutritious food products.
“The private sector can have a huge impact on the long-term health of infants and young children, who are at a critical stage in their mental and physical development, by producing healthy complementary foods specifically targeted at this vulnerable group,” says Marc Van Ameringen, Executive Director of GAIN.
Malnutrition plays a role in more than a third of all deaths of children under the age of 5 – more than 9,000 deaths every day. Malnutrition prevents many more children from reaching their full mental and physical potential, increases health care costs for poor countries, and consequently slows economic growth. For instance, 75 percent of children in India and 85 percent of children under five years old in Ethiopia suffer from iron deficiency anemia, while 57 and 30 percent respectively are vitamin A deficient, which weakens immune systems and can cause blindness.
“Nutrition is a bedrock global health issue that receives far too little attention,” says Katharine Kreis, Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Harnessing the reach and expertise of the private sector is essential to successfully fighting malnutrition and its devastating consequences.”
Companies that receive support from GAIN will be required to ensure that any foods they produce and market meet international standards, complement and do not compete with breast feeding practices, and have demonstrable positive impacts on the health of children.
“Every child deserves a chance at a healthy life, and that chance starts with good nutrition. By bringing companies together with governments and non-profits, we can make nutritious foods accessible and affordable to families in the world’s poorest countries,” says Jay Naidoo, Chairman of the Board for GAIN.
The new initiative will complement GAIN’s ongoing work to increase access to nutritious foods in developing countries. GAIN is already reaching 160 million people with staple foods fortified with essential nutrients. For instance, in China, a pilot review showed a reduction of more than 30% in iron deficiency anemia after the introduction of iron-fortified products.
“This grant allows us to mobilize the innovative spirit of the private sector to deliver products that have clear benefits to the health of young children and the bottom line of companies, and that therefore can inspire the private sector worldwide to do more to fight malnutrition,” says Van Ameringen.
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About Dr. Sanjukta Acharya
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This news story has been reviewed by Dr. Sanjukta Acharya before its publication on RxPG News website. Dr. Sanjukta Acharya, MBBS is the chief editor for RxPG News website. She oversees all the medical news submissions and manages the medicine section of the website. She has a special interest in diabetes and endocrinology.
RxPG News is committed to promotion and implementation of Evidence Based Medical Journalism in all channels of mass media including internet.
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