A Life Saver Called "Plumpynut"

Anderson Cooper Reports On A Nutritional Breakthrough

(CBS)  If Plumpynut is the answer, how come kids are still dying?

"The answer is getting to kids earlier," Shepherd says. "Once children are as sick as she is, Plumpynut is not gonna save her."

Rashida was buried in a nearby cemetery, where the grave digger told 60 Minutes he is burying fewer children than he used to.

Two years ago this region had the highest malnutrition rate in Niger. But now, after widespread use of the Plumpynut, it has the lowest. Dr. Shepherd told Cooper they’ll be able to treat more than 120,000 kids this year, up from just 10,000 children three years ago.

What about peanut allergies?

"We just don't see it," Shepherd says. "In developing countries food allergy is not nearly the problem that it is in industrialized countries.

It's hard to imagine a less industrialized country than Niger. On a list of 177 developing countries, the United Nations ranked Niger dead last -- least developed. More than 70 percent of the people don’t know how to read. Most work in the fields and earn less than a dollar a day. Nomadic goat herders still roam this land -- their children and their kids travel by camel. Goats seem to be the main garbage disposal, but clearly the goats are falling behind. You can still spot a skinny guard dog, but we were told all the cats have been cooked.

In the countryside, where 85 percent of people live, girls start marrying as young as 11 years old. By the age of 15 most are wed, and by 16 most have already become mothers. The average woman here will give birth at least eight times in her lifetime. But largely because of malnutrition, one in five of their children will die before they reach the age of five. Of those who survive, half will have stunted growth and never reach full adult height.

But now, with Plumpynut, more children are surviving and thriving.

"And kids are doing better. Moms say their child's skin is brighter. Their appetites are better. And they’re less sick. You know, what more could you ask for," Shepherd remarks.

Doctors Without Borders is asking for more of this type of food. Their success in Niger proves, they say, that fortified ready-to-eat products, like Plumpynut, save children's lives. Dr. Tectonidis says if the United States and the European Union were willing to spend part of their food aid on this, more companies will start making it.

"Even by taking a miniscule proportion of the global food aid budget, they will have a huge impact, huge impact!" Tectonidis says. "We're not even asking for billions. It will solve so much of the underlying useless death. So we gotta do that now."

"It's useless death," Cooper remarks.

"Wasted life. Just totally wasted life for nothing. Because they don't have this product, little a bit of peanut butter with vitamins," Tectonidis says. "What a waste."

[nanasheart]

How can I contribute to Doctors without borders to purchase more plumpynut?

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[mpnhouston]

Great invention! Now add birth control to it. That''s not cruel - what''s cruel is to put even more pressure from an increasing population on a country unable to provide for the present population. I want every baby in the world to survive but the human race has got to control our population before we run ourselves off the earth.

[scubba82]

Yes, birthcontrol! Either that or hystorectomy! Please, what about OUR kids?? In the good old US of A? I am sorry but I just do not get it. Why are we spending our tax dollars on this type of treatment to save the lives of these children who will, in another 8 or 9 years, go out and have more malnutritioned children? Please explain the reason to me!!!

[jpbretired]

Go one step in addition to mpnhouston''s comment: require birth control for the mother when a child is brought in for plumpynut. The real problem is that the average birth rate for women in Niger is 8! That is way too many in an environment that is already stressed for food.

[bbray51]

Excellent report. Thanks to CBS News for informing us of this movement.

[uganda3]

Who can I contact about getting Plumpynut to my daughter, whom is a Peace Corps volunteer in Rakai Uganda? Their sponsor pulled out, and there is no money for food, for 750 orphans. This will be a Godsend...to feed them before they become even more malnurished. HELP US PLEASE!!!

[vab2ed]

Please let us know how to get money to you for Plumpy Nut for the US and all children in the world who need it.

[seaghost00]

My wife and I were so moved by the story about "Plumpynut". We want to help in some way...We don''t have much, we are retired and on a fixed income, but we diffently have more than these children....Is there some group that we can donate money to that can make sure our money goes toward get Plumpynut to starving chilren?
Thank you,
John and Jean Einsmann

[thintheherd-2009]

If people are dying of malnutrition, then that is a sign that people should STOP BREEDING like RABBITS. I will contribute to any cause that sterilizes these people. Guess we can''t get ''em to use condoms. If these women are having an average of eight children, then there should be mass sterilization. Give all the men vasectomies. Stop this bleeding heart feeding of these people. How ''bout healthcare for all in the USA?

[flamingoyard]

Let me help. I would like to purchase Plumpy Nut every time I go to my local grocery store. Actually I would like to purchase the electronic credit and have the Food Bank or Doctors Without Borders give the money to the foreign factories to produce Plumpy Nut. This would save shipping costs and create jobs. Hopefully this could be the cashier''s new tag line "Plumpy Nut, paper or plastic?" I could spare a couple of dollars each trip to the grocery store--so could most of America! Make it convenient for me to help feed the world along with my own family.

[irondiesel58]

Our government along with the other governments of the world can change this overnight. When this type of thing is going on in another country with such an easy answer.
How can you go to bed at night and sleep when you know this is going on.
Is there No money going to this?
It would also go a long way as to how the world views us and a Nation.
It''s a disgrace for the United States along with England to live and not even try to help in this country. There is more problems over there and this would help greatly and show them we are watching and changes are coming. I''m embarrassed tonight as an American that we have done nothing. Tomorrow I''ll change that for myself and contact these doctors to at least donate money to there cause.

[shanev137]

i agree...there should be mass sterilizations in third world countries who can''t support their own populations.

[debbiepway]

I was really moved about your story about plumpynut. I work at a school and what a good story to share with children. Perhaps a fundraiser for children to help other children. Please let me know how donations can be made and to whom. I do believe in paying it forward!

[r001272]

Re Plumpy Nut - I would rather see birth control and *** education stressed so these starving children don''t become tomorrows parents who will only perpetuate the problem. Do I want to see children starve - no - nor do I want to see them breed. The Zero population Growth goal of the 70''s got lost somewhere and our world is suffering for it.

[mpnhouston]

So sorry for the multiple posts. First time user. I wanted to add that I do think these mothers are no different from myself. They have the same love for their children and husbands. BUT they do not have access to birth control methods, supplies, or even information. In a antiquated agrarian society without any government safety net, the only retirement tool is to have as many children as you can in light of the horrendous children''s death rate. They are not "breeding like rabbits." They are breeding like us. We are just lucky enough to live in a more prosperous country. Thanks.

[linfinster]

If everyone who wanted to make a difference and donate money WROTE their Congressman and women of their state and told them to do something about this we might see quicker action!! Please try it. I plan on it.
What a great idea! I am concerned about the long term effects of the peanut butter and sugar, but just saving the child''s life is a good start. I wonder if the adults eat this too? I too think birth control should be taught at the same time.

[vehrle]

Everyone is so concerned with making sure that birth control is included with the dispersement of Plumpynut that they are totally missing the point of how it is saving lives. Yes, birth control needs to be given to the people but what needs to be taught from day one that a girl is born is that she is a Proverbs 31 women, not allowing *** or marriage before the age of 18. And for all my African-Americans countrymen out there, true enough the U.S. has a multitude of problems of its own but do you/we live inside a bubble? Do you/we live inside a box that you/we can not look outside the borders of the U.S. when our earthly brothers and sisters are in need? I know many of us may not have much but we have much more than the African people ever will. Find it in your heart and in your pocket to help.

[grammawhamma]

How can anyone who watched this story and see those starving babies not be moved to the point of tears but instead make hateful comments...is beyond me. I agree that birth control is needed but is it even available to these people?

I think on income tax forms they should throw out the section that asks if you would like to donate to the presidential election campaign and put a worth while cause there instead. For example this one.

[morgan408]

This was a very moving story. Unfortunately, many questions were left unanswered such as: what is being done to promote the delay child birth for these young women, what is being done to promote child spacing and culturally acceptable family planning? Moreover, what more can the land offer these people and what can be done to help this population become more sustainable? 60 Minutes does a fine job of pulling at heart strings but it does little to inform its viewers of real issues which enable us to think and enable us act and make a difference up-stream.

[linfinster]

FYI

http://www.plumpynutinthefield.com/eng/index-eng.php

[chuz2cruz]

There is another worthy program in Niger that should be mentioned - www.waterforniger.org will take you to the forgotten regions of Niger. Thank you for taking time to look.

[imahealer]

How could anyone not be touched by this very humbling documentary? Weare dealing with another culture...one where the people are illerate. Teaching them about birth control is the tip of the ice-berg.I for one, would like to start a group who would tap into huge investors, who would build more factories to manufacture this product. Having been to Zimbabwe, and also seen the starving children, often orphaned because of the AIDS epidemic, arid land produces no crops, and Plumpynut would save millions of these children. Any advice as to how to get started?

[imahealer]

How could anyone not be touched by this very humbling documentary? Weare dealing with another culture...one where the people are illerate. Teaching them about birth control is the tip of the ice-berg.I for one, would like to start a group who would tap into huge investors, who would build more factories to manufacture this product. Having been to Zimbabwe, and also seen the starving children, often orphaned because of the AIDS epidemic, arid land produces no crops, and Plumpynut would save millions of these children. Any advice as to how to get started?

[imahealer]

How could anyone not be touched by this very humbling documentary? We are dealing with another culture...one where the people are illiterate. Teaching them about birth control is the tip of the ice-berg.I for one, would like to start a group who would tap into huge investors, who would build more factories to manufacture this product. Having been to Zimbabwe, and also seen the starving children, often orphaned because of the AIDS epidemic, arid land produces no crops, and Plumpynut would save millions of these children. Any advice as to how to get started?

[imahealer]

How could anyone not be touched by this very humbling documentary? We are dealing with another culture...one where the people are illiterate. Teaching them about birth control is the tip of the ice-berg.I for one, would like to start a group who would tap into huge investors, who would build more factories to manufacture this product. Having been to Zimbabwe, and also seen the starving children, often orphaned because of the AIDS epidemic, arid land produces no crops, and Plumpynut would save millions of these children. Any advice as to how to get started?

[dcjalila]

Thank you, mpnhouston for reminding us that these women are no different from the rest of us, simply poorer. As I ponder my own pension, I appreciate that in some parts of the world, the elderly are still honored and it is expected that adult children will take care of their parents in old age. Niger''s greatest asset is its children, but they have to live in order to bring progress to the country. With a little help from those of us who so much by comparison, the people of Niger could move past basic survival a come to thrive. Just the fact that we have a home with the electricity to power a television (and a computer) is incredible good fortune. The people of Niger need our assistance far more than our criticism. Proposing mass sterilization is culturally naive and a bit mean spirited. Maybe the check I mail tomorrow will buy the packet of Plumpynut that will feed the kid who will grow up find the agricultural solution to the "hungry season." I don''t think we should sterilize away that potential.

[korimissions]

I find it very telling that when it comes to stories like the ready to use food supplement program in Niger, coarse words like "breeding" are used in reference to Africans that we in the West would never use to describe the reproductive habits of the majority race in North America. "Breeding" is almost universally used in reference to animals. Pure and simple racism. Whatever happened to "compassionate conservatism?" There isn''t a Social Security, WIC or Medicaid program in Niger. That''s why people have many children. The few that survive are the ones who in turn take care of aging parents. By wanting to deny the poor the basic human right of reproduction we can tidily dismiss ourselves of any responsibility to these starving fellow humans and go to bed tonight feeling smug about our inaction. A similar project bearing fruit is the Peanut Butter Project started by Dr. Mark Manary of the medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. It is saving countless lives in Niger, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi. Get online with the Peanut Butter Project or Doctors without Borders and save a human life. As the story described that can be done for just a few dollars. Your positive action will make a difference.

[dcjalila]

Thank you, mpnhouston for reminding us that these women are no different from the rest of us, simply poorer. As I ponder my own pension, I appreciate that in some parts of the world, the elderly are still honored and it is expected that adult children will take care of their parents in old age. Niger''s greatest asset is its children, but they have to live in order to bring progress to the country. With a little help from those of us who so much by comparison, the people of Niger could move past basic survival a come to thrive. Just the fact that we have a home with the electricity to power a television (and a computer) is incredible good fortune. The people of Niger need our assistance far more than our criticism. Proposing mass sterilization is culturally naive and a bit mean spirited. Maybe the check I mail tomorrow will buy the packet of Plumpynut that will feed the kid who will grow up find the agricultural solution to the "hungry season." I don''t think we should sterilize away that potential.

[jbonf1]

As morgan408 implies, there are many unanswered questions and pertinent issues that are the true potential solution to this issue. Also, how is that these people, and multiple others across the globe, were able to survive for thousands of years without plumpynut ? Yes, recent climate change has an impact, and yes, recent civil unrest and politics has an impact. But the bottom line is that these populations were in balance with their surroundings, and that meant that not every child born also lived to adulthood. It worked for centuries. We now are implementing efforts in the name of humanitarianism that are creating an imbalance in their habitat that more than offsets the other inputs that have put the habitat at risk. Is it realistic to assume that a potential mother in Niger would rather have 10 children with a reasonable expectation that 7 will die, or that she have three and all live ? I think if given the choice, the latter would be preferred, because regardless of how much plumpynut is made, we will NEVER be able to resolve this issue, and will simply make the situation worse, and not better. Family planning is the only long term solution. Sorry all, call me coldhearted, but we live on a planet that does not include unlimited resources, and as the world population increases, those resources will be comsumed at an ever increasing rate.

[haymann]

Thank you "morgan408" you said it all. More people need to hear the reality. As far as I''m concerned 60 Minutes has failed Americans again with their half a**ed story.
If only they had jobs in Niger. Maybe 60 minutes could do a story on how nice it would be to send the rest of America''s jobs to Niger. Or, purhapes a story on why jobs didn''t go to Niger in the first place. Or, how about a stroy on Chinese & Indian job''s going to Niger.

[gm19711]

Birth control begins with death control. The primary reason women in Niger, and in other poor, developing countries, have several children is because many kids often do not live past age three. As Anderson Cooper pointed out: one woman he met had eight kids -- four are dead. Give children the tools they need to live fuller, healthier lives -- tools like ready-to-use foods such as Plumpy''Nut -- and mothers will have less of a need for so many children. Malthus was wrong.

[steamboatp]

As a college biology student, I am well aware that this world does not have infinite resources. However, the data show that the human population is nowhere near the "carrying capacity" of the environment.

The reason we have problems with the environment is that we do not have "sustainable development". It is quite possible to invent a practical alternative fuel (e.g. butanol). We have plenty of land, at least in America, that is not being utilized for farming. If we are true stewards of the environment, the sky is the limit.

The United States of America has a much larger population than Nigeria. Why are our children not starving? Not because we treat the environment better. Nigeria is a farm country; they are not pouring out nasty pollution into the water and air. American children are healthy because we have infrastructure.

The answers to Africa''s problems are not some spiritually destructive forms of birth control. The answer to Africa''s problems is science.

[ibdallen]

I understand the need to feed and the need to breed but is this about an opportunity to educate? I think not! This is another human interest story and North America can pay for Plumpy Nut but Niger does not want a N/A morale education . Better to send dollars you can''t buy AK47''s with peanuts.

[shoppe10]

I believe "birth control" should be handed out along with the nutty, to hear these women have soooo many births, they need to be, or their husbands need to be aware of birth control to stop this horrible crime of children dying. We need to educate them also as feeding their starving, dying, children.
HRW

[niameykid]

CBS, thank you so much for doing a story on a country that is so often ignored. My husband is from Niger and we just were in Niger this past summer. We were working on a program we run there, Hoops4Kids. I am shocked with some of the cruel comments I have read here. These are beautiful people who did not ask to be born into these harsh conditions. The problems in Niger, at times, feel overwhelming. The climate is harsh, water is getting scarce, the economy is a mess, and it feels hopeless. BUT, when you are there, with people, they are anything but hopeless. They love their children and their country and they want more than anything for their children to lead healthy, happy lives. We should all be grateful that there are organizations like Doctors Without Borders doing the things we should all be compelled to do.

[shoppe10]

but again, why do you not mention birth control we never ever see a male in this line with wives and children, no, don''t tell me they are tending the animals. I do not want to bring injustice to this story but I do think this country like many others should be aware of "birth control". Please, this has to be rendered in a country of poverty. *** is not the answer the answer is noticing their children are dying, therefore, stop having so many children. Educating not words like I''m reading will help these wonderful women who have to watch their babies die.

[ducksfoot1]

Just watched the Anderson Cooper documentary on Plumpynut. What do the adults eat? They seem to look relatively healthy. It certainly is a sad state of affairs when we can spend billions on a war which is going nowhere and allow babies to starve. Anderson failed to mention an address where one can send donations for the purchase of Plumpynut. Please put an address on your web site. Thank you.

[oneillal]

It''s incomprehensible to me that doctors without borders seems to be concerned only with alleviating human suffering, admirable as that may be. It seems to me that preventing human suffering, through aggressive birth control, is a far better course of action than simply saving thousands of lives today, so that those lives in 14 years, can restart the cycle of procreation, and further suffering. Until any population group gets their population growth under management, the suffering endured is solely a result of and caused by, indisciminate and irresponsible adult copulation, not starvation. The pain of the starving children should indeed be felt by those irresponsible parents. "Let them die, and decrease the surplus population," as Scrooge would rightly say.

[ubrew12]

oneillal: how do you know Docs w/o borders doesn''t promote condom use? What we DO know is that such promotion is VERBOTEN by the ever-sacred Bush administration. Even in Africa.

[shallwehelp]

I want to thank imahealer for his/her comments. I too am searching for a way to best contribute to the effort to save the children who are here. It seems the word needs to be spread...

[sam-i-am26]

I''ve read most of the comments here. I''m curious where anyone gets off deciding who can or can''t have children. The parents in these countries are not being irresponsible. They marry because of love, they have children because of love. And even when unplanned, they still love their children, and do all they can to care for them. No different than those of us in America! Have you considered the fact that if they can''t afford food for themselves and their children, then they can''t afford condoms or pills for birth control?!
I appreciate the input from ''Niameykid''. These parents want what''s best for their children, they just don''t have the opportunity to give them the best. Yes, having less children or no children could help the problem, however, let''s see you get married but never make love to your spouse. Let''s see you live in these conditions and work hard your whole life just to live on millet, and then have some uneducated prejudice person have the audacity to tell you that you''re being irresponsible. These are some of the most responsible people you will find. They work hard, they love hard, and they die hard. Who are we to judge them.
I say God bless the hands that reach out to them with love and caring. They need all the help they can get, and human compassion demands that we who have plenty give it.

[susanhelit]

The birth control, condoms and such that these groups used to provide to these families was cut off by President Bush. You want to know why they keep having kids? Look right at Bush. It''s his policy, if a group feeding starving people dares mention contraception, they lose all funding. And if you are the mother of starving children - you spend your money on food, not on condoms.

[susanhelit]

It all starts with saving children''s lives. Then families can be fairly sure they will have their children grow to adulthood, and no longer need to have a ton of children because most will die.