A humanitarian initiative for better nutrition and improved wellness
Sight and Life is a nutrition think tank and humanitarian initiative. We care about the world’s most vulnerable populations, and exist to help improve their nutritional status. Acting as their advocates, we guide original nutrition research, disseminate its findings and facilitate dialog to bring about positive change.
Fighting micronutrient deficiency
Did you know that malnutrition combined with infectious diseases is the main cause of death in over 50 percent of children under five years of age? And that those who survive often suffer lasting effects? Sight and Life’s mission is to increase awareness of micronutrient deficiencies – so-called ‘hidden hunger’. These deficiencies are real and present threats to public health. And they also threaten education and economic growth – the World Bank estimates that the financial cost of malnutrition in poor countries can be as high as three percent of their GDP. The good news is that improving nutrition helps solve these issues by improving people’s health and spurring economic growth.
As Sight and Life has moved forward, our emphasis has organically shifted from ‘sight’ towards ‘life’. Today, the program focuses on two major issues:
- The ‘double burden’ of malnutrition and lack of physical activity, which leads to increased childhood mortality for some, and a high risk of chronic disease in later life for those who survive.
- Nutritional anemia, today’s most common micronutrient deficiency disorder, affecting approximately two billion people worldwide.
Knowledge-sharing and fieldwork
Sight and Life conducts research and projects with universities, NGOs and government organizations to help improve micronutrient nutrition in developing countries. Since its founding in 1986, the initiative has supported around 3,000 projects in over 80 countries in Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Sight and Life focuses on two main areas:
- Knowledge creation and diffusion
- Supplementation and home fortification programs
In practice, this means that we facilitate meetings, support scientific research, and award training and education grants. We also provide educational materials to help increase understanding and awareness of the role micronutrients play in improving human health and wellness. Just as importantly, we support supplementation and home fortification programs for children, women and other groups most at risk for deficiencies.
