BOOSTING NUTRITION FOR HAITI’S MOST VULNERABLE
In the battle against moderate and severe malnutrition in Haiti, one of the best weapons is AK 1000 – a high-tech, fortified nutritional supplement made from locally-grown beans, rice, wheat and corn, which is then milled together into a digestible powder. AK-1000, or Akamil, is a high-protein cereal blend fortified with vitamins and micronutrients, which has been made in Haiti for over 40 years and is recommended by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
Canadian Feed the Children’s program partners in Haiti distribute AK-1000 to malnourished children and their families. AK-1000 contains vitamins A and B (thiamin B2, B12), iron and zinc making it a versatile formula that can be consumed by children, pregnant and breast-feeding women, as well as tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS patients.
Iron and zinc help with anemia, bolster the immune system and additionally these nutrients help to improve the growth rate in children. When mixed with water, AK-1000 becomes a hearty porridge to supplement the daily dietary intake among those who are under- or malnourished. People often mix sugar and fruit with it in the morning or add salt, vegetables and meat in the evening.
Canadian Feed The Children nutrition expert and Program Manager for Haiti, Francoise Briet, continues to research other advances in dietary supplementation so we can continue to provide the people of Haiti with innovative, local solutions in their fight against childhood malnutrition.
