Newsletter 02 2006.pdf - Sight and Life

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SIGHT AND LIFE 38 NEWSLETTER 2/2006 were at least breast-feeding their babies. It was quite encouraging to see some of these women taking notes very seriously during the demonstrations. A wide range of training techniques and tools were used, such as group-focused discussions, roleplay, case study, brainstorming, demonstrations, lectures, etc. The training emphasized the involvement of schoolchildren as key informants and educators both at family and community levels. Participants were informed about strategies to involve children, such as drawing competitions, debates, poems, etc. Eye health training and door-to-door eye screening Due to ever-increasing complaints about eye-health-related problems by community members, and childhood blindness due to VAD, this training was a necessary part of the effort of RWG. Five individuals were selected for further training on the basis of their ability to deliver services to the communities, reputation and working relationship within the communities. They were fully aware of the people and their needs. Two resource persons invited from Tanzania facilitated the one-week intensive training. Training on poultry keeping The training was intended to increase local participation in direct production of locally available foods rich in vitamin A. To attend the training it was required that participants were able to start and sustain chicken-rearing to required standards which would be overseen by a qualified veterinary officer. From the local communities 56 women were trained by veterinary officers from the Ministry of Livestock Development on how to start and manage a small poultry farm for family and other domestic purposes. The training included visits to commercial poultry farmers. Conclusions We are convinced that our efforts are going in the right direction. However, more is necessary in training and communication as well as in local production of healthy food through food production initiatives and encouragement of agro-business. We cannot finish this report without noting that at present the efforts are not sufficient to manage VAD and other micronutrient deficiencies. In this sense we have to say the struggle continues and we hope for further support, including continuing support from SIGHT AND LIFE.
NEWSLETTER 2/2006 39 SIGHT AND LIFE SIGHT AND LIFE visits Pohnpei, Micronesia, and films a nutrition documentary Lois Englberger and Adelino Lorens, Island Food Community of Pohnpei, PO Box 2299, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia SIGHT AND LIFE visited Pohnpei in April 2006 to film a documentary about nutrition problems in Micronesia and the efforts underway for alleviating these problems. Their visit was coordinated by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei. Klaus Kraemer, Head of SIGHT AND LIFE, and Thomas Breisach, Deputy Head of the DSM Nutritional Products Communications Section, made up the SIGHT AND LIFE team. They were in Pohnpei from 21 to 27 April, 2006. Ulla Lohmann, filmmaker, and her camera assistant Markus Hain were engaged as consultants and were in Pohnpei from 10 to 27 April, 2006. The purpose of the film is to produce a documentary about global nutrition problems, including micronutrient deficiencies and nutrition- and lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Dr. Kraemer pointed out that Pohnpei is an example of a country having a double burden of malnutrition: the problem of micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin A deficiency, and the problem of overweight and chronic diseases. He said, The SIGHT AND LIFE team (from left): Markus Hain, Ulla Lohmann, Klaus Kraemer, Thomas Breisach. “No one would expect an island in the Pacific to have the nutrition problems of both developing and industrialized countries.” Over half of Pohnpei’s children have vitamin A deficiency, a disorder leading to increased infection and mortality. Coupled with this, there are serious problems of obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer in Pohnpei, leading to higher rates of mortality and great suffering among families and individuals. The group filmed the beauty spots of Pohnpei, including the lush Pohnpei landscape, the historical site of Nan Madol, water scenes, and cultural events, first portraying aspects of the paradise concept that many people in other parts of the world have about life on a Pacific island. The team then filmed aspects of the real-life situation relating to food, nutrition and health, and efforts to improve the nutritional situation. These included the Pilot Farm in Madolenihmw led by Pohnpei Agriculture of the Department of Economic Affairs, the Pohnpei Traditional Foods for Health project led by IFCP in collaboration with Mand
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