Comprehensive nutrition program to be expanded

FUSAL (The Salvadoran Foundation for Health and Development), through the program Libras de Amor, will channel donations from several institutions.
Alfredo García
Thursday, July 15th, 2010

The municipalities of San Antonio del Monte and Santa Catarina Masahuat, both in Sonsonate, El Salvador will benefit from the expansion of the comprehensive nutritional program Libras de Amor.

The United States Government through its Agency for International Development (USAID), the Gloria de Kriete Foundation, the Salvadoran Foundation for Health and Human Development (FUSAL) and Citibank El Salvador signed a partnership yesterday that will help reduce malnutrition rates in these two municipalities, where one in four people suffer from some level of malnutrition.

The four institutions have joined forces to achieve better results for the benefit of the population living in extreme poverty.

With the signing of the alliance, USAID formalized a donation of $ 250,000 over a period of 18 months as part of the Global Development Alliance of USAID, which promotes private participation in initiatives that benefit society.

For their part, the other partners in this alliance will contribute $ 340,000, adding up to a total of $590,000. This donation will benefit an estimated 37,000 people from the two municipalities.

"Our actions are framed by a business perspective that focused on people. We seek to generate a multiplying effect through a responsible model that positively impacts health, education and nutrition, in order to promote sustainable development," said Alejandro Poma, director of FUSAL.

FUSAL’s flagship program is Libras de Amor, which provides health care and nutrition to poor families.

The aid is complemented by education on healthy habits and, above all, training to ensure the self-sustainability of these families.

"Now that these four institutions are united, we can achieve a greater impact than if we were acting alone. So I think it is important to seek more partnerships to enhance what each of us can do individually," said Roberto Kriete, President of the Gloria de Kriete Foundation.
 
Originally published in:
El Diario de Hoy
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