THE plight of malnourished children will receive much needed attention today when Accor Foundation presents the Lautoka Hospital with 4000 bags of milk powder worth $20,000.
This supply will feed up to 200 malnourished children for approximately three months.
In May, a health symposium revealed 140 children were found with severe malnutrition last year. Health officials told participants another 250 were expected to be diagnosed with severe malnutrition by the end of the year.
The shocking statistic of 17 recorded deaths through malnutrition last year was also announced with the expectation that the figure would increase this year.
Graeme Ham, the director of Human Resources Accor New Zealand and Fiji, said following the devastating floods in the Western Division this year, Accor hotels in Fiji applied for assistance through the Accor Corporate Foundation for funding for humanitarian intervention
"Accor Foundation's distinctive feature is that it exclusively supports projects proposed by employees," he said. It is an opportunity for the Accor group's employees to add social and human breadth and depth to their work.
"Working closely with the Ministry of Health, and Cure Kids (Accor's NGO charity partner) it was decided that following the floods an area of humanitarian need would be to supply food and sustenance for malnourished children."
Mr Ham said.
The milk powder delivery will be made by hotel staff from across the Pacific who today complete the five day Accor Extreme Challenge to Cure Kids.
Accor has had a long relationship with the Ministry of Health, working closely with Lautoka, Nadi and Suva hospitals through the donation and maintenance of equipment for the Neonatal and Paediatric Care Units - and funding of a Rheumatic Heart screening and treatment program.