[pronut-hiv] Using local food and knowledge to rehabilitate moderately malnourished children

["Stacia Nordin, RD" <nordin@eomw.net>]

We have been working in Malawi to improve health (specifically through 
good nutrition, including the water nutrient) using local resources with 
PermaCulture.  We have not had the opportunity to work directly with 
moderately malnourished children in a scientific manner but welcome the 
opportunity to do so - alternatively to share the knowledge of local 
plants and animals with another organization that could be designed into 
a programme to address short term or long term nutritional needs. 

Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat, Vitamin, Mineral, Water and medicinal needs 
can all be met through African resources if one takes the time to get to 
know their own resources and to use them.  It is getting harder and 
harder to find these resources as people use the knowledge and interest 
in them, so we hope that in forums like this that people will become 
interested to learn more about them.  There are more of us though who 
are trying to raise awareness, multiply seeds and get them "mainstreamed".

Here are a few links I know of to learn about local resources:

    * http://friendsofethiopia.blogspot.com/2006/11/native-vegetables-could-help-solve.html
    * http://www.aluka.org/page/help/siteMap.jsp
    * http://www.bioversityinternational.org/ (not africa only focused)
    * http://www.ecoliteracy.org/ (not african focused, but being
      literate on local resources)
    * http://www.neverendingfood.org/ (our website, if we can do some
      pages on food we will, but at the moment our connection is too
      slow for pictures)
    * http://www.sanbi.org/homepage.htm South African BioDiversity Institute

Some helpful e-mail addresses for local resources include:

    * "Bridget O'Connor (OPPAZ, organics) Permaculture Zambia"
      <bridget@organic.org.zm>,
    * Thierry Bcwari Permaculture Brundi <bthierry2000@yahoo.fr>,
    * Maddy Harland Permanant Publications <enquiries@permaculture.co.uk>,
    * fambidzanai permaculture <fambidza@yahoo.com>,
    * Permaculture Magazine <info@permaculture.co.uk>,
    * Wesley Roe and Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
      <lakinroe@silcom.com> (USA, but with international links)
    * Magazine Maddy Harland Permaculture UK <maddy@permaculture.co.uk>,
      margie@sbpermaculture.org,
    * NFN Permaculture Zimbabwe <nfnz@africaonline.co.zw>,
    * UK Assn Permaculture UK <office@permaculture.org.uk>,
    * Bob Permaculture Lists Jacobs <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>,
    * Network Permaculture Malawi <permaculturemw@yahoo.com.au>,
    * Listserv Permaculture SA <PermacultureSA@yahoogroups.com>
    * ReSCOPE - Regional Schools Permaculture - Africa
      <rescope@sdnp.org.mw>,
    * School Garden List Australia" <school_gardens@yahoogroups.com.au>
      (mostly Australia, but also some international
    *  Suzi High <world@permaculture.org.uk> (British Permaculture,
      keeps international lists)

There are definitely more, I lost a lot of links recently when I changed 
computer and forgot to bring my "favourites" along with me.  Any 
Permaculture person near you can help identify local species for you.

Stacia Nordin, RD

Registered Dietitian
School Health & Nutrition Advisor
Malawi Ministry of Education

Kristof, Khalidwe & Stacia Nordin
Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security Consultants
Crossroads Post Dot Net x-124, Lilongwe, Malawi
nordin@eomw.net 
www.NeverEndingFood.org
t: +265 1-707-213
c: +265 9-333-073 (Stacia)
c: +265 9-926-153 (Kristof)
c: +265 9-281-700 (Khalidwe)

francis khadudu wrote:
> This debate on the use of local resources is indeed very stimulating and need to be pursued due to its apparent cost effectiveness, well known to the local communities and highly sustainable. Take the case of indigenous vegetables such as the jute crop, spider weed, pumpkin leaves and the nightngale which are well known localyfor their nutrition and medicinal values. The focus is to subject the to more robust research to ascertain their composition in terms of proteins,vitamins and micronutrients for use in nutrition interventions. 
>
> Regards,
>
>  Francis Were
>
> -----George Carter wrote: 
>
> I think this is a view that should reflect the MAJOR focus of donor  
> aid. Rather than insist on production of cash crops, as failed  
> policies of the past have done, sustainable and LOCAL approaches make  
> sense. Before everyone is forced to grow corn, a stupid monoculture  
> approach, to feed the automobiles and trucks of rich nations.
>
> A friend is working on a permaculture project in Nigeria. Not only  
> are local foods potentially more nutritious and sustainable, it is  
> better for the environment.
>
> Whey protein can be produced from any milk-bearing animal that is  
> used in the local culture...so all replies to these queries must  
> start by looking around in your "neighborhood" and seeing what is  
> available. Imports, Plumpynut--all that should be just the back up  
> emergency help, not the primary staple.
>
> Also, please note that my original comment had been "I think  
> Plumpynut does remain a bit better than nothing - at least it sounds  
> better than that Ensure crap. Hey--in the West you can make garbage  
> like that and sell it for an outrageous price--you don't get shot.  
> You get rewarded!"
>
> George M. Carter
>
> ------ Lungi Lumumba Okoko wrote:
>
>   
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Why not not use local food and knowledge to rehabilitate moderately
>> malnourished children, instead of using food aid (in the form of  
>> PlumpyNut
>> and others)?
>>
>> What happens when PlumpyNut or whey protein is no longer available  
>> to the
>> community? How will they rehabilitate malnourished children if they  
>> have
>> been taught to think that external food is the cure?
>>     
>>> [snip]
>>>       
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