Main Press - CARE International

TO: CARE U.S.
FROM: CARE International in Liberia
Date: 25 November 1996
Subject: Donation of VitaPro
REPORT ON THE USE OF CARE U.S. DONATION OF VITAPRO TO CARE LIBERIA

Introduction

A donation of approximately 9MT of VitaPro high-protein meat substitute was given to the Swedish organization PMU Interlife for use in their programs to assist elderly displaced people in the areas of Greater Monrovia and Tubmanburg, Bornu County. A visit was paid to a selection of these centers on Monday November 25 in order to follow up on the use of this donation.

Centers

PMU Interlife supports and works with a Liberian NGO called Help for Older People (HOPE), which runs a number of feeding centers and residential homes for elderly people. These people are all displaced from their homes and those living in the residential homes have no family to support them. The feeding centers are located in established shelters for displaced people, and are a complement to the other ration distribution programs. There is also a feeding program for approximately 50 inmates at the Monrovia Prison (again, the prisoners are without outside support from family or friends). The centers are located as follows:

Visit:

One member of CARE staff visited the feeding center at the Ministry of Health shelter (150 beneficiaries), the residential home at Fumpa compound (40 residents and another 100 beneficiaries from the nearby displaced shelter) and the PMU Interlife warehouse in Kongo Town. At each of the centers, the VitaPro is being given as part of the main cooked meal of the day (lunch). It is made into soup by adding extra water, peppers, salt, bulger wheat and "Magee" spice cubes. Approximately 3lbs of Chicken Flavour and 1lb of Beef Flavour VitaPro are used for a typical meal for 100 beneficiaries. A morning meal of CSB is also provided, and the two meals together guarantee a sufficient calorie intake for these beneficiaries. Both centers reported that they have been using the VitaPro successfully for several weeks.

Warehouse:

At the PMU Interlife warehouse, the VitaPro is being stored in secure and dry conditions, apart from other commodities. At the present rate of use, the VitaPro should be sufficient to continue this program for approximately another 3-4 months.

Tubmanburg:

An earlier visit to Tubmanburg saw the centers run by HOPE (supported by PMU Interlife), and these are considered to be a very useful addition to the humanitarian aid being done in the vulnerable community (the majority of the elderly people interviewed in a household survey reported that they attended one of the centers). The VitaPro is now in use there, and a visit to these centers is planned as soon as possible.