In 2011, the Horn of Africa region experienced one of the worst droughts in 60 years. Rising food prices, due to lack of supply, means that thousands of already vulnerable children are more likely to experience severe acute malnutrition. Plumpy'Nut, a vitamin enriched peanut-paste, plays a critical role in hospitals and clinics throughout the region. In over 90% of cases, it can bring a child on the brink of death back to life.
In the Horn of Africa, millions of vulnerable children remain in danger of losing their lives to the worst form of malnutrition: severe acute malnutrition. Our humanitarian partners, including UNICEF, need robust supplies of Plumpy'Nut to give these children the nutrition and calories they need to survive and eventually thrive. Plumpy'Nut brings much-needed hope to children, their families, and communities.
Plumpy'Nut, as a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), is endorsed by the World Health Organization as the most effective way to treat severe acute malnutrition in children. It is a revolutionary peanut-paste (invented by Nutriset) made with milk powder, whey, sugar, oils, and vitamins/minerals that does not require refrigeration or the addition of water. Plumpy'Nut is given to the mothers and caregivers of children under medical supervision. Within 4-10 weeks children can make a full recovery.
Meeting the nutritional needs of thousands of children means that not only are lives being saved today but entire communities are strengthened to be more healthy and productive for now and the future. A brighter future cannot be achieved if the 60 million children in our world, currently suffering from forms of acute malnutrition, are not reached in greater numbers.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
