Malnutrition


 * Malnutrition in Children**

To increase funding for production and distributation for Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and clean water to Guatemala (or other severely malnourished countries); the country with fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition.
 * Proposal**


 * Alternate Solutions**

1. Develop an easier to use, and cheaper RUTF than Plumpy'nut. -Pros: creates a safer product for children that are severely malnourished, and could be created to not need water to be drunk with it. -Cons: take time and money for the research; the RUTF that is developed might be better in terms of nutrition but more expensive to make. 2. Have a fundraiser to raise money for food/RUTF's and clean water to be distributed throughout Guatemala. -Pros: enhances public awareness about malnutrition -Cons: not enough people in group, probably would not get as much RUTF's and clean water to malnourished countries as with a public policy proposal

Write a letter to Rep. Tim Holden, explaining what is going on in countries with a high rate of malnourishment; about RUTF's and how he could help.
 * Action Plan**

1. Plumpy'nut is a RUTF that costs about $1 per child per day; it is peanut based and has powdered milk as one of the main ingredients 2.Only 3% of children that are malnourished are getting Plumpy'nut 3. 20 million children are severely malnourished 4. Plumpy'nut can cause choking and needs to be consumed with clean water 5. Some countries that have a high chronic malnutrition rate don't have enough clean water 6. 1 child dies every 6 seconds due to malnutrition 7. RUTF's are a high protein and high energy supplement for children with severe acute malnutrition 8. The main cost of Plumpy'nut is the powdered milk 9. malnutrition is estimated to cause 1/3 of all child deaths
 * Research**

"Empty Bellies. (cover story)." //Weekly Reader News - Senior// 88.11 (2009): 4. //Middle Search Plus//. EBSCO. Web. 14 Jan. 2010. Malnutrition. UXL Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. Rob Nagel. 2nd ed. Detroit: U*X*L, 2007.
 * Bibliography**

"WHO | Malnutrition." Web. 19 Jan. 2010. . "Analysing the RUTF global supply chain Humanitarian Logistics Association." //WELCOME TO HLA! Humanitarian Logistics Association//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. []. "Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) - Mother, Infant and Young Child Nutrition & Malnutrition - Feeding practices including micro nutrient deficiencies prevention, control of wasting, stunting and underweight." //Mother, Infant and Young Child Nutrition & Malnutrition - Feeding practices including micronutrient deficiencies prevention, control of wasting, stunting and underweight//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. []. "Guatemala |." //WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - Fighting Hunger Worldwide//. Web. 26 Jan. 2010. [].