WISHH News

US Soy's Role in African Famine Relief Efforts
 

The 14.4 million people facing a drought-induced famine in six Southern African countries today is a daunting concern to world leaders. No simple solution will relieve the human suffering. Yet, the soybean checkoff-supported World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) is finding ways that soy can help.

International relief organizations have long used products like corn-soy blend and soybean oil in their humanitarian efforts. WISHH’s work with high-protein soy products is proving that soy can play an even greater role, especially since the African famine is tragically worsened by the impact of HIV/AIDS on many in the region. In November, the United Nations and many other agencies met to discuss the impact of HIV/AIDS and relief efforts in Africa. The Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) stated at the event that, “According to nutritionists, people living with HIV/AIDS should increase their food intake and eat about 50 percent more protein, as well as foods rich in micronutrients.”

Launched in 2000, WISHH had already recognized soy’s potential for the millions of people worldwide who have HIV/AIDS. WISHH began working with groups like Humana People to People that had already created “soy restaurants” to serve orphans and people in communities affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. Humana’s Ib Hansen recently stated, “We have seen the impact that soy has on orphans in Zimbabwe. You can see major changes to their health within one month of eating one meal of soy per day. And in the face of HIV/AIDS there is no doubt that soy can help in turning around this crisis.”

WISHH is expanding its efforts with groups like Humana who can use soy. The World Food Program, which is helping feed millions of people in drought affected Africa, wants to start working more with soy.  In addition, WISHH is providing technical support ranging from trainings on use of soy products to developing new soy foods recipes and templates for good nutrition programs for day care and other facilities.

“The potential for soy to help is powerful,” said ASA WISHH Program Director Jim Hershey who just returned from Africa. “Good nutrition is going to be key for relieving human suffering today and for the long-term economic recovery of the region.”