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Topical Area: Community and Public Health Nutrition

Community and Public Health Nutrition (Poster Session)

(P24-058-23) Locally Produced Nutrient-Rich Energy Bars To Prevent Children in the Camps for Internally Displaced People From Malnutrition

Monday, July 24, 2023
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Location: Poster Board 469

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Lwin Mar Hlaing, PhD (Nutrition)

    Program Lead (Nutrition)
    Ministry of Health (National Unity Government) of Myanmar
    Mandalay, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

    • Co-Author(s)

  • MH

    Min Kyaw Htet, PhD

    Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Food and Nutrition (SEAMEO RECFON), University of Indonesia.
    Yangon, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Disclosure(s):
Lwin Mar Hlaing, PhD (Nutrition): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: The higher incidence of armed conflicts in Myanmar led the increasing number of camps of internally displaced people (IDP-camps). The devastating crisis due to political unrest situation since after the military coup in February 2021 has been threatening the survival, health, nutritional status, and well-being of children throughout the country. The objective of this community-based activity was to produce nutrient-rich foods using available resources for the children under-ten-years in IDP-camps to prevent them from risk of acute malnutrition.

Methods: Energy and nutrient requirements of children ( < 1y, 1-5y, 7-9y) was estimated based on the WHO/FAO recommended nutrient intake. Ready to eat nutrient-rich Energy bars were produced using available ingredients (oat-flour, wheat flour, protein powder, peanuts, cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame, raisin, milk, honey, butter, brown sugar). Nutrient contents of Energy bars were estimated using the Nutrisurvey for Windows (version 2004).

Results: A total of 192 children under-10-years from 7 IDP-camps (Yathaegu, Phalue, Khwinmaemite, Nyarpaihta, Shwehmone, Shweayemyaing, Thaebawboe) from border area of Karen state were provided with Energy bars (3 packs of bars a week for 20 weeks) from October 2022 to January 2023. Each 72gm pack of Energy bar provided 291 Kcal energy, 7.6g protein, 2.8g iron, 74.9g calcium, 25.9g total folate, together with other nutrients. Major challenges were difficult transportation of Energy bars to the camps sites due to increasing armed conflict, frequent movement of the field team from one place to another due to airstrike attacks to the healthcare sites, and destruction of food supplies by the military on the way to camps. Mid-upper arm circumference of children was not able to be assessed as planned since the field team has to provide emergency healthcare for injured people and move to other camps with time.

Conclusions: Despite the challenges and risk of security, innovative and continuous efforts should be made to save the lives of children and protect them from the risks of malnutrition using available resources. International community and donor agencies should also provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced children while ensuring that the aids are reached to the beneficiaries.

Funding Sources: Not available