Peanut Butter Miracle

"This simple product which has been certified by WHO, WFP and UNICEF has shown that children can be cured of malnutrition in approximately 8-12 weeks after it is given."

by SHRADHA BASNYAT

FROM ISSUE # 161 (May 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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ANUP PRAKASH

In May 2007, when Mark Arnoldy was visiting Nepal he experienced a life-altering event that would change the course of his life for the next couple of years. After accidentally eating a paneer dish that had cashews and peanuts, he experienced an immediate allergic reaction. As luck would have it, there was a strike going on the very same day. While suffering from a major allergic reaction to peanuts and being unable to reach a hospital immediately, he got a rare glimpse of what it feels like to not have access to health care when needed the most.

He also realised, however, that what nearly caused his death could actually take the form of life saving medicine for numerous children suffering from malnutrition. A pre-med student who was already into his 3rd year at the University of Colorado, Mark then did something that most medical students wouldn't do - take a year off. Coming back to Nepal, he hopes to kick-start an initiative that has already proved to be highly effective in various places like Africa- using peanut butter as a cure
for malnutrition.

Studying peanut butter production with Meds and Foods for Kids in Haiti, he saw how fortified peanut butter; known as a ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) could have miraculous effects on recovery from malnutrition. This product which was developed by a French paediatric nutritionist in the 1990s helps children to gain weight.

"This is one of the simplest products to make. It only requires peanuts, sugar, oil, powdered milk and a vitamin and mineral complex." says Arnoldy. This simple product which has been certified by WHO, WFP and UNICEF has shown that children can be cured of malnutrition in approximately 8-12 weeks after it is given. In Nepal, there are currently more than 500,000 children under five who suffer from malnutrition and this could be just what is required to
save them.

Right now, Mark has been working with Himalayan Health Care in this project and at present is looking for ways to make peanut butter as cost-effective as possible. The challenges of making peanut butter as cheap as the currently used surbottam pitho are still in use. But, they are confident that peanut butter can be made affordable for those in need through various approaches such as selling peanut butter or energy bar at a commercial range and then using the profit to sell
peanut butter at below the cost prices for
low-income areas.

"This initiative is also a way to support the local economy," says Arnoldy. He hopes that after establishing production facilities here in Nepal, fortified peanut butter can be made here instead of being imported. In addition to using materials available in Nepal, locals will also gain employment.

Heading back to college soon, Mark will then go on to complete his MD in public health after graduating. However, he will continue to divide his time and live in Nepal to complete this project. Eventually, if the project becomes as successful as it was in other countries such as Malawi, it can be replicated in various regions of Nepal and other countries with children suffering from malnutrition.

After laying down the basics for this project and getting it started, Mark hopes the Nepalis will be able to apply and sustain this project for the years to come by themselves. He says, "I just want to be the catalyst for this project, not the main initiator".