Haiti Malnourishment Program

According to the United Nations, about 76 percent of Haitians live on less than $2 per day and 56 percent live on less than $1 per day. Because of this poverty, many children are undernourished. Approximately, 2.4 million Haitians are food-insecure. Due to a lack of food and sanitation, about 72 percent of 6-12 year old children suffer from iodine deficiency, and 32 percent of school-age children possess intestinal parasites.

A new regimen, called Medika Mamba, erases all signs of malnourishment within a month. Once children have gone through this medication for a month, their stomachs will fully develop, allowing them to consume solid foods, which are generally donated by foreign countries. Failure to develop their stomachs will limit their consumption of these donated foods, and therefore causing malnutrition. YHO, in close collaboration with a local Haitian hospital, sponsored about 50 children through Medika Mamba. Issues resulting from the 2010 Haitian earthquake arose near the end of the program that would have compromised the safety of those traveling to Haiti. As a result, only the regimen and supplies were able to be sent.