Nutrition during pregnancy is very important to maintain the health of both mother and child. This is the concern of IPB students who help meet the nutrition of pregnant women.
Pregnant women must meet the nutritional needs of the fetus in accordance with gestational age. Even fulfilling nutrition according to gestational age will help reduce the risk of health problems for both mother and fetus at birth.
That is the focus of Indonesian students in participating in the DSDC (Developing Solution for Developing Countries Competition) competition held in America. Even this Indonesian student team has succeeded in making flat bread that is high in iron, calcium and folate. ITB students who care about pregnant women in South Sudan, where pregnant women are the focus of the DSDC competition.
As is well known, the theme raised to help pregnant women is due to the people of South Sudan who live below the poverty line. In fact, the focus on this theme is aimed at 78% of the 12 million living in South Sudan who are in rural areas because they live in poverty. In fact, almost 90% of pregnant women there need very serious nutritional attention.
The records show that 48% of women living in South Sudan have an age range of 15-19 years and are married. Even getting married young there is a serious concern. Women who marry young have 2-5 times the risk of experiencing malnutrition. Even in the World Food, a program to complement the nutritional needs of pregnant women in Sudan requires serious attention considering that 15% of the population there are experiencing malnutrition.
Through the UN International South Sudan competition, Indonesia sent its best students. They are IPB students named, Michael Liong, Cynthia Andriani and Saiful Pratama. They innovate to help pregnant women in South Sudan who experience malnutrition. They make a staple food called flatbread.
In the process of making flatbread, it is made from moringa, stoic beans, milk, a mixture of spinach, wheat flour and salt. This is sufficient to meet the nutritional needs needed by the people of South Sudan. In a study conducted by those who were given the name ‘Nutrious Flatbread to Alleviate Pregnancy Related Problems in South Sudan.’ Very helpful solving problems that occur there.
Even the content contained in flatbread, among others, is iron, folate, calcium contained in peanuts. As for spinach, which contains iron, folate, and vitamins such as vitamins C, A. B6 and B2. Even research conducted moringa contains high enough calcium to meet the needs of pregnant women. It can even help the absorption of calcium in the body.
Pregnant women need calcium which can help to structure the bones and teeth of the fetus. Likewise with the bones of pregnant women to prevent osteoporosis. Iron content which can function as the production of red blood cells which can prevent pregnant women from anemia during pregnancy. While the folic acid content in these foods will help reduce the risk of birth defects.
This Indonesian student not only considers the nutritional value but also a durable packaging with a good packaging atmosphere. Even this environmentally friendly product also considers the cost, which ranges from 4600 rupiah per pack. So it is easily accessible to the people there. After doing a laboratory scale 9 out of 10 people who taste Sun-AMI like it in terms of taste, aroma and texture. Thus, hopefully it can help conditions that occur in South Sudan, especially pregnant women who experience insufficient nutritional conditions.
