Sep. 2, 2009 (Business Wire) -- The H.J. Heinz Company Foundation announced today that it will sponsor a nutrition mapping project conducted by the World Food Program (WFP) in Bangladesh, which will result in a comprehensive strategy for addressing that country’s nutritional deficiencies in an efficient and sustainable manner.
The H.J. Heinz Company Foundation is supporting the project in the first year with a grant of $350,000, as well as in-kind technical assistance.
Although significant progress has been made in recent years, undernutrition remains one of the most chronic and pressing public health issues in Bangladesh. Young children and women are particularly at-risk, as nearly 40 percent of both groups are underweight, and almost half of children under five suffer from stunted growth.
According to multiple data sources, most Bangladeshis are also deficient in vitamins and minerals, especially iron, vitamin A and zinc, resulting in cognitive impairment, anemia and blindness, among other conditions.
“In Bangladesh, Heinz is helping WFP identify the most vulnerable populations and formulate strategies to improve their access to food and their nutritional intake. The goal is to create a model for helping to build a healthier, more productive and self-reliant society from the ground up,” said Tammy Aupperle, Director of the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, fighting hunger worldwide both through emergency response and long-term projects which improve people’s lives.
This year, WFP was aiming to feed 5 million hungry people in Bangladesh, who have been seriously affected by high food prices and the downturn in the global economy – including many who were affected by last year’s Cyclone Sidr. Due to major funding shortfalls, however, WFP can now only reach 1.4 million – or around one quarter of the original caseload. In Bangladesh, WFP distributes wheat flour, biscuits and blended food, all fortified with essential micronutrients. It also distributes micronutrient powders, which can be added to food, to targeted groups.
“The World Food Program is thrilled to be partnering with the H.J. Heinz Company Foundation on a unique project to comprehensively map the nutritional status and needs of Bangladesh, and then develop with other key stakeholders a sustainable strategy for eradicating hunger and micronutrient malnutrition in this nation,” said John Aylieff, WFP Bangladesh Representative.
The H.J. Heinz Company Foundation is dedicated to helping reduce global malnutrition through its signature program, the Heinz Micronutrient Campaign (HMC).
Through its sponsorships, the HMC has pioneered the development of micronutrient powders that can be added to staple foods in the developing world to combat anemia and other disorders related to micronutrient malnutrition.
