Herbalife partners with Global Health Strategies Institute to improve children’s nutrition in India
Aims to address malnutrition by providing essential micronutrients to more than 10,000 children
Herbalife, a global nutrition company, has announced a one-year partnership with Global Health Strategies Institute (GHSI), to help improve the nutrition of more than 10,000 children ages 5-12 in India, in line with the government’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM) and School Health Programmes (SHP).
As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, Herbalife will work with GHSI and global vitamin supplier, DSM, to help provide access to good nutrition to children in India, a country with a history of malnourished, underweight children.
The government-run MDMS and SHP programmes are designed to improve the nutritional needs of children by providing food supplemented with adequate quantities of iron, folic acid and vitamin A. However, more fortified foods with essential micronutrients are needed.
Anjali Nayyar, Senior Vice President, Global Health Strategies Institute, said: 'Addressing the nutritional needs of children is critical in India. Although this project will be implemented in one pilot state, we strongly believe this will be a giant step in ensuring every child in India has the right to good health. We are delighted to partner with Herbalife on this critical issue.'
In the first phase of the project, GHSI will conduct a landscape analysis to help all parties understand the nutritional landscape, provide insights into the required nutritional support, the target beneficiaries, expected reach, implementation model and potential partners.
The initial landscape analysis will happen in Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Based on the recommendations, GHSI will work with Herbalife and DSM to determine the most appropriate state for the pilot. Herbalife and GHSI will oversee implementation of the project under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme or the School Health Programmes.
'Herbalife is committed to improving the nutritional habits of people in India. Nutrition is an important building block for proper physical and cognitive development in children. We are proud to be working in partnership with GHSI to address the immediate nutrient needs of thousands of children, while simultaneously exploring long-term, sustainable approaches to address the underlying causes of malnutrition in India,' said Ajay Khanna, Vice President and Country Head, Herbalife.
'DSM is committed to contributing to this holistic approach to improve nutrition among children,' said B. Rajagopal, Country President, DSM India. 'The initiative is a positive intervention in their early lives, when it is most beneficial, and will help address the serious problem of malnutrition in India.'
