Medika Mamba (which means "Peanut Butter Medicine" in Creole) is a Ready-To-Use-Theraputic Food (RUTF) - which means it's specially formulated to treat severely malnourished children. It is an energy dense peanut butter, with supplements and vitamins built in so that it's really complete nutrition in one product. For children that have never had enough to eat, their bodies can't recover from illness or fight off bugs like a healthy person.
A couple of other fabulous items about this product and the organization that makes it for us - Their little plant is in Haiti, so they're adding to the Haitian economy, which is so desperately needed. The formula can be given to the children right in the orphanage, so it's not something that needs medical supervision. And in 6 to 8 weeks, the children that get the full treatment on this product RECOVER from malnutrition. That means they have a fighting chance at life again.
In Dr. Wolff's words: "We see the proof daily: Six to eight weeks after they start treatment
with Medika Mamba, these children are transformed. They are normal for weight for height. Their sparse, reddish hair grows in thick and black. They look healthy and energetic. Their eyes are bright and clear."
It works out to be about $60 per child for the full 6-8 week treatment. And it saves their lives. It gives them a chance at life.
We lost 3 little ones at our orphanage earlier this year. When they come in so malnourished and then another infection of some sort sweeps through Haiti, they just can't fight it off.
And some of our dear ones are just too little. Our little "niece", Gracie, is one of those that will be treated this first round. We plead, hope, pray, beg, that this beautiful little girl has some more meat on her bones when we go down in October. That's trip is in 11 weeks, and that should give us just enough time to get her to a healthy weight.
We're so grateful that we have found our children in Haiti. We're struggling with the delays and the process, but we're grateful we can do some good somewhere while we wait.
3 comments:
Good to see you posting it has been awhile! Thanks for all the work you have done to get that going I can't wait to see the results and let Gracie know what an awesome "aunt" she has! Any word on your files?
Lori,
I was just reading about this stuff. What a 'wonder drug' to give these babies (little ones) a chance.
that is SO exciting!!! I read about "plumpynut" in Africa and was hoping so badly that it would get to Haiti and now to read that something similar is already there! This is awesome! i contacted the other people about trying to get some help for our haitian roots kids but they wouldn't let us if we didn't have a medical professional administering it. the fact that it is in haiti is the coolest! yeah!
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