An NGO approach for addressing the nutrition dilemma: Pohnpei focuses on awareness, food analysis, conservation, and food processing.
The establishment of the Island Food Community of Pohnpei, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, presents a new approach for promoting Pacific Island food for its health and many other benefits. Its vision is holistic, stressing the importance of island food for sustainable development, economic benefits, self-reliance, improved health, cultural preservation, and human dignity, at the same time protecting the natural resources. A major reason for the establishment of this NGO is the emergence of an epidemic of nutrition-related health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, vitamin A deficiency, and anemia. Although health is at the cornerstone of the establishment of this NGO and health officers are integrally involved, the project is closely associated with the agriculture sector. The Island Food Community of Pohnpei works via an ethnographic participatory inter-agency approach, and its activities include the identification and promotion of nutrient-rich varieties of the traditional staple foods, incorporating the 'Yellow Varieties Message'. There are also activities to conserve rare varieties and to develop small-scale food processing.
Englberger
Lois
L
Island Food Community of Pohnpei, Kolonia, Federated States of Micronesia. nutrition@mail.fm
Lorens
Adelino
A
Raynor
Bill
B
Levendusky
Amy
A
Paul
Yumiko
Y
Hagilmai
Welsihter
W
Currie
Jim
J
Weilbacher
Penny
P
Mauricio
Rufino
R
Pretrick
Eliuel
E
Kostka
Willy
W
Ehsa
Ellen
E
Andreas
Robert
R
Billen
Wehns
W
D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008849:Micronesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009938:Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*