A new program called "Vita-Meal" from Nuskin is about to be launched with two thumbs up from The Ministry of Health. The product is designed for malnourished children and aims to reduce the malnutrition rate from the current seven per cent.During a nutrition conference designed to help dieticians continue with their nutritional education, Neil Sharma, head of the Health Ministry told the board members that they needed to work more effectively to progress the operations in 2010 onwards. Dr Sharma informed the dieticians that their support would be paramount.
"The programs will help target our Millennium Development Goals 4 and will lead to a healthier future generation of Fiji Citizens. Past mismanagement in the distribution network of powdered milk for such kids will not be tolerated." he said.
According to Litia Tuinakelo, Program Officer for The National Iron and Micronutrient Supplementation (NIMS) program, the "Vita meal" program was for children from six months old to two years. She also indicated that mothers would receive supplementation from their baby clinics, and that Nuskin was depending on the support of parents and guardians to ensure that the program was successful.
"This is the second stage of the NIMS program, which will target children less than two years." said Tuinakelo
Tuinakelo added that children would only be given the tablets if their parents or guardians consented.
