The United Nations estimates that 50,000 Haitian children 5 and younger are severely malnourished, delaying their development and potentially causing lifelong health issues. A new Mercy Partnership Fund investment is tackling childhood malnutrition in developing countries while providing local jobs.
At 7 years old, Alexon weighed only 29 pounds, roughly half the average weight for a boy his age in the United States. Nonprofit Meds & Food for Kids (MFK) provided Alexon with Medika Mamba, a peanut-based product fortified with nutritional supplements, produced at its factory in northern Haiti. After eight weeks of treatment, Alexon weighed 35 pounds and was able to run and play. He now regularly plays soccer and attends and actively participates in school. See more of Alexon’s story and learn about the history of MFK in this video.
Working with UNICEF, MFK has provided nourishment treatments for more than 700,000 children like Alexon in Haiti and 17 additional countries using this lifesaving ready-to-use therapeutic food. Mercy’s investment, combined with that of other mission-focused investors, will help MFK double production at its factory in Haiti, which was recently converted from expensive diesel fuel to solar power and employs 88 local residents. The factory now has Haiti’s largest solar installation and produces excess energy. In addition to decreasing pollution, it now accesses a more reliable energy source to prevent production shutdowns caused by diesel fuel shortages.
MFK is one of 60 mission-focused organizations in the Mercy Partnership Fund portfolio, working in 73 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Learn more about the work of these investees.