IMTF convenors, governors and regional representatives meet
A meeting was held at the IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, March 19-20, 2012 to update members on the IMTF activities in 2011 and to discuss plans for 2012.
News and events
Click on the links below to read up to date news about the treatment and prevention of malnutrition worldwide. Or read our regional news pages.
Email us with your news and details of events.
Celebrating the life of nutrition pioneer John Waterlow
Posted on April 8, 2011 by Paula Fentiman
Tributes were paid to pioneering researcher Professor John Waterlow at a commemorative symposium organised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Research to celebrate his life and achievements.The event included personal reminiscences by friends and family as well as memories of the significant medical contributions made by the internationally-renowned scientist. His immense kindness was highlighted by former students and staff.
Diagnostic performance of visible severe wasting for identifying severe acute malnutrition
A research has found that visible severe wasting failed to detect approximately half of the children admitted to hospital with severe acute malnutrition diagnosed anthropometrically
WHO's Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System
WHO's Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System
CMAM conference taking place in Addis Ababa
We have been informed that the web blog for the CMAM Conference 2011 currently taking place in Ethiopia is now available at http://cmamconference2011.org and will be updated daily as the conference progresses.
MALNUTRITION E-LEARNING LAUNCHED
The IMTF and Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton have developed an eLearning course titled "Caring for Infants and young children with severe malnutrition" based on the WHO recommended guidelines for the management of severe malnutrition. The course aims at providing a standardised and accessible resource that will facilitate the acquisition by health professionals of core competencies in the care and management young children with severe acute malnutrition.
Commentary. Ready-to-use therapeutic food. Can the children be saved with fortified peanut paste?
In the February 2011 issue of the Journal of World Public Health Nutrition Association, Michael Latham (of blessed memory), Urban Jonsson, Elizabeth Sterken and George Kent discussed issues related to Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food for the management of Severe Malnutrition.
WPHNA Correspondence: RUTF stuff. Can the children be saved with fortified peanut paste?
This correspondence is available in the March issue of the Journal of the World Public Health Nutrition Association. Focussing on RUTF, the authors specifically asked the question "Is RUTF ever the right approach?"
Dosing regimens of oral ciprofloxacin for children with severe malnutrition: a population pharmacokinetic study
A paper has demonstrated that an oral ciprofloxacin dose of 10 mg/kg three times daily (30 mg/kg/day) may be a suitable alternative antibiotic for the management of sepsis in severely malnourished children.
Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN): The UK’s position paper on undernutrition
The UK's Department for International Development (DFID) has released UK’s position paper on Scaling Up Nutrition. The document explains why the UK is scaling up to reduce global undernutrition and what this means.
IMTF Sessions at FANUS 2011, Abuja, Nigeria
Attending FANUS 2011?
The Federation of African Nutrition Societies 2011 meeting will be held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria from the 11th to 14th September 2011 on the theme “Accelerating Nutrition Action for Africa’s development”.
FANUS 2011
The Federation of African Nutrition Societies (FANUS) in collaboration with Nutrition Society, Nigeria presents the 2nd FANUS meeting to be held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Global food crisis takes heavy toll on east Africa
In this recent world report published in the Lancet, an estimated 8·8 million people in east Africa are going hungry, and a sluggish international response is failing to address the growing crisis, which is approaching famine conditions in some areas.
Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Scale up Meeting
A meeting will be held in November 2011 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned and build consensus on a range of issues relating to national scale-up of CMAM.
Estimates of the duration of untreated acute malnutrition in children from Niger
Isanaka S, Grais RF, Briend A, Checchi
Abstract
Expected incidence of acute malnutrition is the most appropriate measure for projecting the needs of a nutritional treatment program over time in terms of staffing, food, and other treatments, but direct estimation of incidence is rarely feasible at the onset of an intervention.
Trends in malnutrition and mortality in Darfur, Sudan, between 2004 and 2008: a meta-analysis of publicly available surveys.
Nielsen J, Prudhon C, de Radigues X.
The humanitarian response to the crisis in Darfur is considered the largest humanitarian operation in the world. Nielsen et al conducted a meta-analysis of 164 publicly available surveys to analyse trends in malnutrition and mortality in Dafur, Sudan.
Cost-effectiveness of community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) in Malawi
Wilford R, Golden K, Walker DG.
The study showed that scaling-up CMAM within essential health services in Dowa District, Malawi was cost-effective and scaling up CMAM in similar contexts is also likely to be cost-effective
Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Costing Tool
FANTA-2 has published Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Costing Tool.
Prevalence of wasting among under 6-month-old infants in developing countries and implications of new case definitions using WHO standards
Kerac M, Blencowe H, Grijalva-Eternod C, McGrath M, Shoham J, Cole TJ, Seal A
A study has found that wasting among infants under 6 months is prevalent in many developing countries whether NCHS or WHO definitions are used. However using WHO standards to define wasting results in a greater disease burden, particularly for severe wasting.
Efficacy and safety of therapeutic nutrition products for home based therapeutic nutrition for severe acute malnutrition a systematic review
TARUN GERA
This systematic review showed that the use of therapeutic nutrition products like RUTF for home based management of uncomplicated SAM appears to be safe and efficacious.ANEC 4 NAIROBI DECLARATION
“Education and professional core competencies for nutritional practice and nutritional support and training of health workers in the treatment and prevention of nutritional problems across the life cycle”
Nutritionists and related health professionals attending the 4th African Nutrition and Epidemiology Conference in Nairobi resolved for core competencies for nutrition practice and support and management of nutritional problems.
THE JOHANNESBURG RESOLUTION
“CARING FOR SEVERE MALNUTRITION (SM) OF INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AS A CORE COMPETENCY FOR PAEDIATRIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS”
Indian Paediatrics Special Issue on Severe Acute Malnutrition
Indian Pediatrics has brought out a Special Issue (August 2010) on Severe Acute Malnutrition, which deliberates in detail on the global and national evidence relating to pertinent issues on this subject.
Paediatricians resolve to make caring for severely malnourished infants and children a core competency
Pediatricians meeting at the 26th Internal Paediatric Association (IPA) Congress of Pediatrics in Johannesburg, South Africa, called on the IPA to make Caring for Severe Malnutrition of Infants and Children as a Core Competency for Paedatric Health Professionals.
Ready-to-use therapeutic food for prevention of childhood undernutrition
Hendricks KM. Nutr Rev. 2010 Jul;68(7):429-35.
Abstract
Undernutrition is a major contributor to child mortality and total global disease burden. Ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) is recommended by the World Health Organization for community-based management of uncomplicated forms of severe acute malnutrition.
Niger's hunger crisis: a legacy of lessons unlearned
By Samuel Loewenberg The Lancet 2010;376:579-81
Niger is facing a catastrophyic hunger crisis as aid agencies scramble to secure funding to feed more than half of the country's 8 million people.
Invitation to IMTF's Pre-Congress Workshop at the IPA 2010 Congress in Johannesburg
The International Malnutrition Task Force invites participants attending the International Paediatric Congress 2010 in Johannesburg to a Pre-Congress Workshop titled "Caring for Severely Malnourished Children as a Core Competency"
Date: August 4th 2010
Time: 8:30-16:30
Venue: Hall G/Committee Room 5 Sandton Convention Centre
Field Exchange April 2010, Issue 38
The 38 issue of Field Exchange by the Emergency Nutrition Network has been released.
Among the topics discussed in this issue included:
Effectiveness of RUTF compared to a corn/soy-blend-based pre-mix for treating moderate malnutrition in Niger children
Nackers F, Broillet F, Oumarou D, Djibo A, Gaboulaud V, Guerin PJ, Rusch B, Grais RF, Captier V.
A study has found that RUTF resulted in a higher weight gain, a higher recovery rate, a shorter length of stay and a lower transfer rate to the Inpatient-Therapeutic Feeding Centres (I-TFC) compared to a Corn/Soy Blend (CSB) pre-mix among children located in the Zinder Region in Niger.
Legal fight over Plumpy'nut, the hunger wonder-product
By Hugh Schofield
BBC News, Paris
Posted on Thursday, 8 April 2010 20:03
Should a revolutionary humanitarian food product be protected by commercial patent, when lifting restrictions might save millions of starving children?
That is the moral conundrum at the heart of a bitter transatlantic legal dispute.
On one side are the French inventors of Plumpy'nut, a peanut paste which in the last five years has transformed treatment of acute malnutrition in Africa.
Nutriset, the Normandy-based company, says the patent is needed to safeguard production of Plumpy'nut in the developing world, and to stop the market being swamped by cheap US surpluses.
The impact of a short-term intervention using the WHO guidelines for the management of severe malnutrition at a rural facility in Angola.
Giugliani C, Duncan BB, Harzheim E, Breysse S, Jarrige L.
A study has shown that short-term intervention with in-service supervision based on the WHO guidelines in a setting of limited resources contributed to a reduction in fatality rates from severe malnutrition
Assessing breasmilk intake in infants using stable isotope techniques: IAEA support for AFRA Member States
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is mandated within the human health programme to seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to preace, health and prosperity throughout the world. The objective is to enhance the capabilities of IAEA Member States in addressing issues related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health problems through the development and application of nuclear techniques, within a framework of quality assurance.
Edesia Wins $2 Million USAID Grant to Prevent Malnutrition
Edesia LLC, a non-profit producer of life-saving Ready-to-Use Foods (RUFs), is the recipient of a $2 million multi-year grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The social context of childcare practices and child malnutrition in Niger’s recent food crisis
Katherine Hampshire, Rachel Casiday, Kate Kilpatrick and Catherine Panter-Brick
ABSTRACT
In 2004–05, Niger suffered a food crisis during which global attention focused on high levels of acute malnutrition among children. In response, decentralised emergency nutrition programmes were introduced into much of southern Niger.
Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing a Novel 10% Milk RUTF with the Standard 25% Milk RUTF in the Treatment of SAM in Rural Malawian children
Mark J. Manary, Heidi L. Sandige and Kenneth Maleta
Treating severely malnourished children with a 10 percent milk RUTF results in a lower rate of recovery and slower growth rates when compared to the standard 25 percent milk RUTF
Integration of Infant and Young Child Feeding into CMAM
A training manual on Integration of Infant and Young Child Feeding into Community Based Managment of Acute Malnutrition has been produced by ENN, IFE Core Group & collaborators.
Field Exchange Publication November 2009, Issue 37
The current issue of Field Exchange of the Emergency Nutrition Network presents several topics which would be relevant to visitors of the IMTF website. These include
- Diluted F100 v infant formula in treatment of severely malnourished infants < 6 months
- Local and centralised therapeutic food production
Acute malnutrition is common in Malawian patients with a Wilms tumour: A role for peanut butter
Israëls T, Borgstein E, Jamali M, de Kraker J, Caron HN, Molyneux EM.
This study concluded that acute malnutrition, superimposed on chronic malnutrition, is common in patients with Wilms tumour in Malawi. Chiponde, a peanut butter based ready-to-use-therapeutic-food, is an attractive means of nutritional support which needs further study.
Pathophysiological changes that affect drug disposition in protein-energy malnourished children
Oshikoya KA, Senbanjo IO.
In-spite of abundant literature on the epidemiology and management of Protein Endery Malnutrition (PEM), focus on metabolism and therapeutic drug monitoring is lacking. This review discussed the pathophysiological changes in children with PEM that may affect the disposition of drugs frequently used for their treatment.
Malnutrition and mortality patterns among internally displaced and non-displaced population living in a camp, a village or a town in Eastern Chad.
Guerrier G, Zounoun M, Delarosa O, Defourny I, Lacharite M, Brown V, Pedalino B.
The study found a high mortality rate among Internally Displaced Persons and an elevated prevalence of wasting not only in IDP camps but also in villages located in the same region.
Food and Nutrition Bulletin issue on Management of Moderate Malnutrition
The Food and Nutrition Bulletin, vol 30, No 3 (2009) Supplement published in September, 2009, featured articles mainly on Managment of children with Moderate Malnutrition and other related topics.
Preventing Severe Malnutrition in Children under 2 Approach (PM2A): A Food Assisted Approach
The Preventing Malnutrition in Children Under 2 Approach (PM2A) is a food-assisted approach to reducing the prevalence of child malnutrition by targeting a package of health and nutrition interventions to all pregnant women, mothers of children 0-23 months and children under 2 in food-insecure program areas, regardless of nutritional status.
Report of IMTF Activities at the International Congress of Nutrition 2009
The 19th International Congress of Nutrition was held in Bangkok Thailand from 4-9 October 2009 under the theme “Food Security for All”. It was the first to be held in Asia in 20 years and was attended by several thousand nutrition scientists from all over the world.
GAIN Working Paper Series No. 2 Food by Prescription: A Landscape Paper
Greenaway, Kate. Food by Prescription: A Landscape Paper. Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). Geneva, Switzerland, 2009
Although HIV testing is increasingly available and efforts to support the nutritional needs of people living with HIV have intensified appreciably, antiretroviral therapy (ART) service providers continue to report large numbers of clients presenting with advanced disease and acute malnutrition. In some ART programs, as many as 33 percent of all first-visit clients are unable to walk into the clinic without assistance, correlating with high rates of mortality in the first 90 days of treatment. In response, there has been a rapid proliferation of Food by Prescription (FBP) programs, designed to ensure efficient and effective nutrition care and rehabilitation for people enrolled in HIV care and treatment programs.
Abstracts of Malawi Conference on Diarrhoea and Malnutrition
The 10th Commonwealth Association of Paediatric Gastroentorologists and Nutritionists (CAPGAN) Conference on Diarrhoea and Malnutrition was held in Blantyre, Malawi from the 12-16 August 2009.
The conference brought together practitioners from around the Commonwealth to discuss child health.
Workshop on Management of SAM Children through Medical Nutrition Therapy
A Workshop on Management of SAM Children through Medical Nutrition Therapy is being jointly organised in India by:
TASK FORCE REPORT TO IUNS - PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MALNUTRITION
The International Malnutrition Task Force (IMTF) for the prevention and control of malnutrition was launched in September 2005 in Durban at the 18th International Congress of Nutrition
IMTF Sessions at ICN 2009, Bangkok, Thailand
Going to Bangkok?
The International Malnutrition Task Force has organised the following sessions.
The 26th International Paediatric Association: Congress of Paediatrics 2010
The International Paediatrics Association has announced the 26th Congress of Paediatrics 2010 to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 4-9 August 2010.
Community Nutrition A Handbook for Health and Development Workers
This new book by Burgess, Bijlsma and Ismael is intended for health and other development professionals who work at community and district level, as well as teachers and students of nutrition.
A Large-Scale Distribution of Milk-Based Fortified Spreads: Evidence for a New Approach in Regions with High Burden of Acute Malnutrition
Isabelle Defourny, Andrea Minetti, Ge´za Harczi, Ste´phane Doyon, Susan Shepherd, Milton Tectonidis, Jean-Herve´ Bradol, Michael Golden
This study demonstrated the potential for distribution of fortified spreads to reduce the incidence of severe wasting in large population of children 6–36 months of age in a District of the Maradi Region, Niger.
Indian Government Asks UNICEF To Stop Distribution Of Nutrition Aid
"India has asked UNICEF to stop distributing millions of dollars worth of nutrition aid to children, saying it had been done without permission and at the expense of local food to fight hunger," Reuters reports. Since August 2008, UNICEF has invested about $2.4 million importing "a high energy relief treatment known as 'Ready to Use Therapeutic Food' (RUTF)" for children with severe acute malnutrition in the states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, according to the news service (Williams, 8/4).
Nutrition in Emergencies Course
Nutrition in Emergencies is an intensive five day course designed to introduce participants to the latest knowledge and best practice in the sector.
The aim of the course is to give participants an overview of nutrition in humanitarian emergencies, including the types of malnutrition, both direct and underlying causes of malnutrition, how malnutrition is measured, and common nutritional interventions.
HIV and AIDS Treatment in Practice (HATiP): Nutrition in ART programmes
The current issue (issue 141) of HIV and AIDS Treatment in Practice (HATiP) publication discusses
- Nutrition in ART programmes
- A palliative care perspective on nutritional support
- Food and nutrition at the 2009 HIV Implementers' Meeting
Probiotics and prebiotics for severe acute malnutrition (PRONUT study): a double-blind efficacy randomised controlled trial in Malawi
Kerac M, Bunn J, Seal A, Thindwa M, Tomkins A, Sadler K, Bahwere P, Collins S.
In Malawi, Synbiotic2000 Forte did not improve severe acute malnutrition outcomes.
Prognostic Accuracy of WHO Growth Standards to Predict Mortality in a Large-Scale Nutritional Program in Niger
Nathanael Lapidus, Francisco J. Luquero, Valérie Gaboulaud, Susan Shepherd, Rebecca F. Grais
A study of children being treated for malnutrition in Niger has shown that, Weight-for-Height indicators calculated using WHO standards were more accurate for predicting mortality risk than those calculated using the NCHS reference.
Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition in India
UMESH KAPIL
This editorial discusses the issues surrounding Home-based management of Severe Acute Malnutrition with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food. It also outlines advantages of Home-Based against hospital-based management of SAM.
Should India use Commercially Produced Ready to use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
In India, 48% of children under five years of age are stunted and 43% are underweight: almost 8 million children suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition.
Dr Prasad and colleagues are of the view that "the current thinking - that a centrally produced and processed Ready to use Therapeutic Foods should supplant the locally prepared indigenous foods in treating SAM - ignores the multiple causes of malnutrition and destroys the diversity of potential solutions based on locally available foods".
6th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
The 6th World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health and Disease has been announced.
The 19th International Congress of Nutrition
The 19th International Congress of Nutrition themed Nutrition Security for all would take place in BITEC, Bangkok Thailand from 4-9 October 2009
Working group set up to investigate severe malnutrition in HIV
An African-based working group now exists to examine the impact of the HIV virus on severely malnourished children.
New online malnutrition training course
An electronic version of the WHO training course on the inpatient management of severe acute malnutrition has been developed by private company Microlink PC UK with the University of Southampton.
Antibiotics in HIV areas: New guidance
Guidance on inpatient antibiotic treatment for severely malnourished children in areas of high HIV prevalence has been changed. It is recommended that places with high HIV prevalence adapt hospital-based practices accordingly.