Plumpy'nut
Location
Plumpy'nut is one of the mos well-known Ready-To-Use-Foods.
What are Ready-To-Use-Foods (RUFs)?
• Nutrient dense products with high energy and calorie contents.
• Proven to be indispensible tools in the fight against malnutrition.
• Used as therapeutic treatment and/or non-therapeutic prevention of severe acute malnutrition.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Michelle
Last Name
Szynkowicz
Website
Organization
Action Against Hunger
Country
United States
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Action Against Hunger
Organization Website
Organization Phone
212-967-7800
Organization Address
247 West 37th Street New York, New York 10018
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States
Your idea
Name Your Project
Plumpy'nut
Country your work focuses on
Kenya
Describe Your Idea
Plumpy'nut is one of the mos well-known Ready-To-Use-Foods.
What are Ready-To-Use-Foods (RUFs)?
• Nutrient dense products with high energy and calorie contents.
• Proven to be indispensible tools in the fight against malnutrition.
• Used as therapeutic treatment and/or non-therapeutic prevention of severe acute malnutrition.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
Until the development of Plumpy'nut and RUFs, it was necessary for children to be treated using F-100 milk formulas in hospitals. This was more expensive, and there was a risk of water bourne illness through the preparation of the formulas. RUFs eliminate this risk, and make it possible to distribute such products on a preventative level as well as a therapeutic level. Community-based outpatient models have become a much more cost effective and beneficial way to treat and prevent malnutrition.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Yes
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
Due to plumpy'nut and other RUFs, it is possible to treat more children and hospitalization is not required for even some of the most severe cases.
Problem
5 million children die each year from acute malnutrition.
Actions
Action Against Hunger has programs in over 40 countries across 5 continents focusing on food security, sustainable development, nutrition and water and sanitation. Recently, Action Against Hunger implemented the distribution of RUFs on a wide-scale in northeast Kenya, in order to prevent malnutrition from escalating in a high risk region.
Results
Since it was first used in the field in 2006, 43,000 children have been saved. Those numbers continue to grow each year, from 7,000 lives in 2006 to 25,000 lives so far in 2009.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
If RUFs could be distributed preemptively to all areas at risk for malnutrition in children under the age of 5, we could prevent and presumably end death by malnutrition. Combined with the other programs of Action Against Hunger, government support, and donations from supporters and other organizations RUFs have the power to eradicate world hunger.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
If national governments would not allow Action Against Hunger to assist citizens in their countries or if we lost a substantial amount of funding. If the price of food continues to rise that would also greatly hamper our success, seeing as RUFs are more expensive to produce than traditional food products.
How many people will your project serve annually?
More than 10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for more than 5 years
In what country?
Kenya
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Action Against Hunger/ACF - USA
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Without the support of these organizations, Action Against Hunger would not have the ability to provide hunger relief across the globe.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. African governments to support our initiatives.
2. 150 million people to make a one time donation of $50.00 to completely
eradicate world hunger.
3. Educating students across the country on the causes, effects, and solutions
associated with malnutrition.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
The realization that children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could be saved and brought back to a healthy weight in just 30 days through at home, community based treatment led us to this innovation. After struggling with the original milk-based products, which led to complications regarding distribution and water-bourne illnesses, Action Against Hunger and team of scientists realized that there had to be a more effective and efficient way to combat acute malnutrition.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Guy Sorman is the founding board member of Action Contre la Faim, the original headquarters of ACF in Paris, France. Without his visionary ideas and hardwork none of this would have been possible.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Personal contact at Changemakers
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
 | Action Against ... updated this Competition Entry. - 800 days ago |
| Action Against ... submitted this idea. - 800 days ago |
