Non-Profit Food Distribution: Working with Businesses to Reduce Undernutrition in Nigeria

In Nigeria, undernutrition is causing vast social and economic damage. To address this, poor people must have better access to a diet rich in essential nutrients. Markets are a key source of food for a growing proportion of poor people, but a number of constraints prevent businesses from providing nutrition-rich foods that reach the poorest communities. In the short term, supporting non-profit distribution systems is the most effective way to work with businesses to improve the diets of poor people. However, undernutrition is so widespread that nonprofit distribution cannot reach all those affected. Policymakers and donors need to increase and sustain public funding for non-profit distribution while exploring other ways to bridge the gap.DFI

Better Nutrition for the Poor through Informal Markets

In the fight against undernutrition, policymakers are seeking to use markets to increase access to nutrient-rich foods. Yet ensuring food reaches those most affected by undernutrition requires shaping the markets and businesses from which they source food. Poor people in rural and urban areas tend to buy food – including the foods most important for nutrition – not from large businesses, but from small enterprises and informal markets. To make a difference in these markets, development actors have to work differently. Experiences of past programmes highlight the importance of building the capacity of informal businesses, capitalising on their flexibility and building consumer trust. Better data, innovative research and experimentation need to be the priorities for policymakers.UK Department for International Developmen

Is Nutrition Losing Out in African Agricultural Policies? Evidence from Nigeria

Agricultural policies in many African countries focus on industrialising food value chains and substituting domestic products for imported ones. Yet experience in Nigeria shows that, by focusing on staple crops and neglecting vegetables, pulses and animal proteins, these policies are missing opportunities to address micronutrient undernutrition. By promoting import substitution, these policies also risk undermining gains made in food fortification. Before restricting imported foods, agricultural policies need to build the capacity of domestic value chains to provide high-quality produce, while also strengthening regulatory institutions. This will require long-term commitment, but failure to act could jeopardise progress on undernutrition.DFI

The Role of Business in Providing Nutrient-Rich Foods for the Poor: A Case Study in Tanzania

This case study of a Tanzanian food processing business analyses the potential of mid-sized businesses to contribute to tackling undernutrition. Particularly among young children and pregnant mothers, undernutrition has lifelong consequences and impedes individuals’ health, wellbeing and life chances. Providing nutrients through food is one way to reduce undernutrition, in conjunction with improvements in health and sanitation. This report examines how private companies can contribute to producing and delivering nutrient-rich foods to undernourished populations, as well as the constraints they face in doing so. It offers recommendations to governments, non-profit organisations and other development actors on how to collaborate with businesses in this area to catalyse their potential. The study examines the case of Power Foods Limited, a midsize company, and the first in Tanzania to produce fortified nutrient-rich foods from traditional crops. It is also the first local company to produce ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), used for the treatment of severe acute malnutritionDFI

Mapping Value Chains for Nutrient-Dense Foods in Nigeria

This report details the findings of an analysis of value chains for several nutrient-dense foods in Nigeria. It assesses the potential of a number of products to contribute to reducing undernutrition in Nigeria. It identifies key barriers that restrict these products’ impact and identifies options for development agencies, public–private partnerships and others to respond. Value chain analysis has major advantages for food-based approaches to tackling undernutrition, because it highlights where particular actors, activities and markets can serve as leverage points to address barriers to nutrient-dense foods. This report is complemented by a case study of the experiences of two businesses in producing nutrient-dense products, and by an analysis of current policy and recommendations. Although this report lays out options for strengthening each of the commodities examined, the policy report makes broader recommendations on how government, donor agencies, businesses and partnerships can enhance the contribution of food markets to reducing undernutrition in Nigeria.UK Department for International Developmen

Changing Trends in Total Knee Replacement

Introduction:  This study evaluates a possible change in the demographics and surgical practice observed in a large cohort of patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR). Patients and methods:  We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected data on two groups of consecutive patients undergoing primary TKR. Group one consisted of patients who underwent surgery between 1994 and 1998. Group two consisted of patients who had surgery between 2009 and 2012. Results:  The mean age of group two was significantly greater than that of group one: 68.9 years (68.1–69.7 years) for group one versus 70.1 years (69.6–70.6 years) for group two (p = 0.009). The mean BMI of group two was significantly greater than that of group one: 29.5 kg/m2 (29.0–29.9 kg/m2) for group one versus 32.0 kg/m2 (31.7–32.3 kg/m2) for group two (p < 0.001). The mean pain component of the AKSS was significantly worse in group one than in group two: 28.6 (27.2–30.0) for group one versus 35.5 (34.6–36.4) for group two (p < 0.001). The mean function component of the AKSS was significantly worse in group one than in group two: 48.6 (47.3–49.9) for group one versus 51.5 (50.7–52.3) for group two (p < 0.001). Conclusion:  This study describes the change in demographics of patients undergoing TKR in our institution over the last two decades.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Policy Options to Enhance Markets for Nutrient-Dense Foods in Nigeria

This report analyses policy options for reducing undernutrition in Nigeria by improving the functioning of markets and the private sector in providing food. The report identifies specific constraints that inhibit businesses from providing these foods, and reviews experiences with five policy strategies to address this problem. The analysis reveals that particular food-based strategies have been successful when they have overcome or circumvented key market constraints. Identifying which the main constraints affecting a particular market or population are and assessing whether a particular approach will overcome them, should therefore be the first steps in developing food-based policies and programmes to reduce undernutrition. The report outlines options for strengthening these strategies in Nigeria, aimed at donors, federal and state governments, private sector organisations and non-profits.UK Department for International Developmen