Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Grandma Peanut Brittle Greets Plumpy'nut

Hello again, loyal P.B. and Jers! You've helped us reach another goal, so you get another comic! And you also get a bit more information about your new friend Plumpy'nut.

One of the most revolutionary things about ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) is that they're easy to store and transport. Before RUTFs, malnourished children were treated with therapeutic milk (which we'll learn more about in the next installment.) The milk formula was effective, but only for children who were treated in hospitals or health centers. That meant that children who lived in areas where there were no hospitals, or areas where the hospitals were too crowded, couldn't get the lifesaving treatment they needed.

Easily packaged, shipped, and administered, RUTFs expanded malnutrition treatment from hospitals to communities and family homes-- even in remote areas where children would otherwise not have access to healthcare. Of course, Action Against Hunger still works with and supports local health centers, but RUTFs allow treatment for malnutrition to continue outside health facilities.

Home treatment not only opens doors for more children to get care, but it also makes a child's recovery process easier for her family. With RUTFs, caretakers can treat their malnourished child at home while still tending to other responsibilities, like farms, livestock, businesses, and other family members.

Now that you know how important it is for Plumpy'nut to be transported to homes across the world, I want to thank you again for helping him get there. (And Grandma Peanut Brittle will thank you, too. . . as long as he gets to his destination safely.)

 

Plumpy'nut will be back tomorrow to share the next part of his journey with you!

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