Many of you have asked about the malnourished babies at Wanna House and what they are being fed to help them grow. AAI has found that Costco brand formula works best for the majority of babies and that it is one of the most affordable ways to provide nutrition due to the formula shortage in Ethiopia. When we travel, we will lug at least a suitcase of formula to help stock their shelves (giddy up, Costco)!
In addition, AAI recently began using a high protein nutritional supplement called Plumpynut to feed the babies and toddlers who are malnourished. It is made of peanut paste, sugar and powdered milk and it is chuck full of vitamins and minerals. Surprisingly, peanut allergies that many children experience in industrialized countries are not an issue for children in the developing world. They have found that the babies LOVE it and (even better) that it is hugely successful in plumping up those babies. It has received much attention by the medical community for its affordability, transportability (no water or refrigeration is needed) and effectiveness in providing life-saving nutrition to children who need it most. If every hungry baby in the world had Plumpynut...???
I attached a link to an 11-minute segment from 60 Minutes that was aired in the fall of 2007. The chief nutritionist from Doctors Without Borders discusses Plumpynut and how it is being used in developing countries. Watch and be friggin' amazed.
