27 August 2010
This morning I met with George Mulamula at the Ministry of Trade & Industry. George formerly worked at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and is very knowledgeable about business in Rwanda. Our specific discussion focused on potential locations for the MANA factory. These are the basic requirements I sent to George as he said he would do some research on options for us:
- Reliable electricity and water
- Secure area of town (prefer near to Kigali)
- Easy access for large trucks
- Convenient access for employees
- Proximity for skilled labor
- Facility can be easily renovated for our requirements (need 500 -700 m2)
After meeting with George, I went to UNICEF for the wrap up meeting to hear the initial conclusions regarding the national nutrition supply chain. The four commodities that were under evaluation were therapeutic milks (F-75 and F-100), Corn-Soy Blend (CSB), and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF). I learned that in 2009, the Ministry of Health conducted a health and nutrition survey on 750,000 children under the age of five (53% of the U5 population in Rwanda) and found that 1.9% (~26,000 children) were suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while 6.9% (~97,500 children) were suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. These numbers confirmed the research we did in 2009 and earlier this year. Beyond that, it demonstrates the great need for MANA in Rwanda. One of the key recommendations that UNICEF is making to the Ministry of Health is the encouragement and support for local production of RUTF.