AFRO-NETS> Information: Nestle Nutrition Institute for Africa

["Prof. D. Labadarios" <DEMETRE@sun.ac.za>]

Information: Nestle Nutrition Institute for Africa
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Dear Sir/Madam,

On the 9th of October 2001 an e-mail message on the subject of "The 
dangerous spillover effects taking place in Africa, with Nestle ex-
ploiting the HIV crisis" authored by Dr. Ted Greiner was circulated. 
In reply to specific comments made therein, may I please request that 
you circulate the text below to AFRO-NETS members for the purposes of 
information and perspective?

With many thanks in advance,

Prof. D. Labadarios
mailto:DEMETRE@sun.ac.za


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Dear Colleagues, 

We, the under named, having taken note of the contents of the e-mail 
message "The dangerous spill overeffects taking place in Africa, 
with Nestle exploiting the HIV crisis" dated 9th October and having 
considered it appropriate to reply in view of the possible confusion 
this message may have created because of the assumptions and allega-
tions made therein regarding the newly inaugurated Nestle Nutrition 
Institute for Africa (NNIA), would like to comment as follows:

1. The Institute is a Nestle Corporate Initiative.

2. The Board of the Institute consists essentially of concerned 
health professionals whose sole and single aim is the promotion and 
implementation of nutrition activities and/or programs appropriate 
for the sub-continent and its priorities.

3. The Board, in its first meeting, identified the Institute's mis-
sion as follows:

Mission
The NNIA is a multidisciplinary educational organization dedicated to 
the science of healthy nutrition for people of all ages. The Insti-
tute will provide information, guidance and support to bridge the 
latest scientific discoveries and their application to achieving op-
timal nutrition.

Credo
The NNIA is guided by a set of fundamental principles to help ensure 
that each undertaking meets the organization's core values. This edu-
cational organization is founded on the credo that good nutrition be-
gins before birth and is nurtured by the knowledge and pure joy of 
eating good food. The NNIA seeks to support healthcare professionals 
and scientists as they serve those who wish to make sound nutrition 
choices for themselves and their families.

Vision
It is the vision of the NNIA that people at every stage of life will 
have the knowledge, access and motivation necessary to maintain good 
nutrition for themselves and for their loved ones. Further, it is the 
desire of the Institute that life is enhanced not only through the 
adequate provision of basic nutrition, but also through the connec-
tion between good food and the creation of a full and healthy life-
style.

Role 
* To facilitate and foster the development, communication and appli-
  cation of sound nutrition research and understanding.
* To connect scientists with technology in the search to expand the 
  boundaries of nutrition research and understanding. 
* To provide healthcare professionals with access to the most current 
  and balanced nutrition information and tools they can use to make 
  good nutrition a motivating goal for those they serve. 
* To motivate consumers and caregivers toward a practical and enjoy-
  able approach to nutrition. 

4. The Institute's mission therefore does not include, overtly or 
covertly, the promotion of any particular food products in any of the 
life cycle stages. 

5. In clarifying the Institute's mission and aims, the Board hopes 
that any confusion which may have been created will not be allowed to 
tarnish the image of an African initiative managed by scientists with 
the said defined mission and aims. 

6. The Board of the Institute extends a hand of friendship and coop-
eration to all those health professionals who wish to work together 
and pool resources in addressing the many difficult and very urgent 
nutrition issues facing our continent. 

7. Finally and for the benefit of the greater issues in nutrition 
facing the continent, the Board requests that, in future, interested 
colleagues consult with the Institute's spokesperson (who will be 
made known when elected) before reference to, and/or any assumptions 
or interpretations of, the Institute's activities/programs is/are 
made. 

8. We have exercised our right and copied this response, which was 
prompted by the e-mail message of 9th October and the assumptions 
therein, to UNAIDS for their information and background. Should any 
colleague(s), including the authors of the e-mail message, wish to 
join us in what we believe is a worthwhile and constructive develop-
ment in and for our continent he/she/they would be most welcome. We 
look truly forward to everybody's constructive contribution to the 
success of the Institute's defined mission and aims. 

Names and affiliations: 
Prof. Gabriel Anabwani, MBChB, M Med (Paed), M.Sc. (Epid), Senior 
Consultant and Head of Paediatrics, Princess Marina Hospital, Gabo-
rone, Botswana. 

Prof. Ganapati Bhat, M.B.B.S, M.D, DCH, Head Department of Paediat-
rics & Child Health, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. 

Prof. Peter A. Cooper, M.D, FC Paed (SA), PhD, Department of Paediat-
rics and Child Health, University of Witwatersrand & Johannesburg 
Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Dr. Chand Domah, M.B.B.S; MD (Paed), Consultant Paediatrician, Flacq 
Hospital, Mauritius. 

Ms. Jane Downs, B.Sc.; Post Grad Dipl Hosp. Diet, B.Sc (Hons) Diet., 
Principal Dietician & Head of Department, King Edward VIII Hospital, 
Durban, South Africa. 

Prof. Demetre Labadarios, B.Sc. (Hons); MBChB, Ph.D, FACN, Head, De-
partment Human Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of 
Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

Dr. Joseph Kariuki Mbuthia, MBChB; M. Med, Chairman, Kenya Paediat-
rics Association, Gertrude's Garden Children's Hospital, Medical Ad-
visory Committee, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Dr. Precious Moloi, MBChB, DCH, General Practitioner, Women's Clinic, 
Sandton Medcare Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Prof. Norman Nyazema, B.Sc. B.Sc (Hons), Ph.D, Department of Pharma-
cology, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.


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Prof. D. Labadarios 
Head: Dept of Human Nutrition 
University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital
Fransjie Van Zijl Avenue 
Clinical Building 
Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
Tel: +27-21-938-9259
Fax: +27-21-933-2991
mailto:demetre@sun.ac.za

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