Intergovernmental Institution for the Use of Micro-Algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition

IIMSAM “H.R.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin sultan Alnahyan Spirulina Feeding Centre Kisumu - Kenya” has responded to an emergency looming malnutrition situation to the many needy suffering children of South Kivu – Kalehe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). IIMSAM will be responding with Spirulina donation for the temporarily relief in saving lives of children who find themselves is a desperate severe malnutrition situation. IIMSAM will immediately commence a Modus Operandi for the identified beneficiaries among the many critically affected children. This temporary emergency relief measure to help save the lives of these children who are badly affected with malnutrition. Mr Kanjira Jules-Joseph, who visited IIMSAM-Kisumu Sheikh Zayed Centre from 6th June 2012 to 10th June 2012, became our strategic partner for the delivery of emergency spirulina for the DRC. IIMSAM has donated 7,000gms of Spirulina concentrated powder which is intended to benefit the worst affected children.

The quantity given can take care of dozens of children continuously subjected to its use at 5gms per child daily for slightly less than one month as a start. IIMSAM will make additional arrangements to send the quantity of about 28,000gms to serve them for another additional two months to make a total three months, the minimum time lapse and duration required for continuous Spirulina usage to help clear Acute & Severe Malnutrition hence restore good health for each one of the affected children.

Mr Kanjira Jules-Joseph works with “Action Pour la Paix, I ‘Education et le Development” (APED asbl). An NGO which mainly engages on activities that improves and uplifts the living standards within the local community being serviced. The programmes and services rendered are of social in nature especially focusing on Education, Agriculture – food security, Health including HIV/AIDS related issues etc. The NGO has very good standing and is well respected by the Ministry Of Agriculture in the DRC and has managed to influence direct support of its activities from the Government.

IIMSAM & “Action Pour la Paix, I ‘Education et le Development” (APED asbl) have principally and mutually agreed to form a working strategic partnership to work together and formulate modalities with intent to assisting the many who are suffering from the scourge of malnutrition in Kivu province and DRC as a whole. The situation with malnutrition around Kivu is reported to be alarming. It is with this background and understanding coupled with the knowledge of the concrete deeds of the existing IIMSAM in Kisumu-Kenya in saving thousands of lives since its inception in 2009 that our strategic-partner was endeared and encouraged to engage on a fact finding mission as he seeks to find a solution for the rampant severe malnutrition menace affecting the health of his people back in the DRC. Our strategic partner “Action Pour la Paix, I ‘Education et le Development” ultimate goal & objective is to make a breakthrough in the introduction of the use of Spirulina in Kivu and DRC as a whole. Mr Kanjira Jules-Joseph praised IIMSAM organization and its leadership for taking the lead and for being instrumental in the advocacy and the making of Spirulina a key driver in the fight against and the eventual eradication of malnutrition globally. He called for the need for all to develop concern in this noble direction so that many more people and organizations join or give IIMSAM support in the fight to alleviate the malnutrition menace globally.

The Secretary General of IIMSAM AMB. Remigio Maradona commented:
“I am very proud of our IIMSAM Team in Kenya for a fantastic deed well done in responding to an extremely dreadful emergency situation in one of our official member state of the IIMSAM Family…our emergency response in the service of the DRC and its peoples and in particularly those in need in South Kivu – Kalehe, Province of the DRC… I would like to also state that we will do everything in our powers to establish with the cooperation of our strategic partner and the government of the DRC a Replica of the Kenya -Spirulina Distribution Centre in South Kivu-Kalehe Province… and towards this end I will be consulting with our Spirulina Resident Expert our Technical Director Mr. D. Fundi a native of the DRC to work with Our Centre Director Mr. F. Lwamba to work out a feasibility action plan that would be self-sustainable and permanent in relieving some of the acute severe malnutrition in the aforesaid province for it is not only our duty as the DRC was one of the first Member State that gave support to the IIMSAM Treaty but is also our moral duty to help those in need…despite IIMSAM`s severe chronic under-funding over the last few months that has put the organization as a whole in a precarious stand. “We cannot let this deter our will to serve and continuing our fight against malnutrition or in finding a way to permanently help the people of the DRC…My gratitude to the Kenya IIMSAM team for carrying out our mandate under difficult circumstances and for their caring and commitment…I commend them for a job well done!”