Treating Malnutrition in Haiti with Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods
2011
This case describes the introduction of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs) to treatment programs for severe acute malnutrition. It describes how RUTFs transformed malnutrition treatment in emergency and non-emergency contexts and how their use has evolved since they were introduced in 1999. The case examines RUTF policy in Haiti, including the results of a pivotal pilot program and the introduction of RUTFs in children six months to five years old. The case explores the decision of the chief of Haiti’s Department of Nutrition to use RUTF for the treatment of moderately acute malnutrition in Haiti, and leaves readers grappling with the question of how to implement this policy. The case helps students to understand the global public health approaches to malnutrition and its prevention, and to examine the role of ready to use therapeutic foods in malnutrition treatment and prevention programs.
Learning Objectives: To understand the global public health approaches to malnutrition and its prevention, and to examine the role of ready to use therapeutic foods in malnutrition treatment and prevention programs.
The Global Health Delivery (GHD) Project, an interdisciplinary collaboration between Harvard Business School, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, investigates the management decisions behind disease treatment and prevention globally. The Global Health Delivery (GHD) Case Collection is a set of teaching case studies that are available for all at no cost online through Harvard Business Publishing, GHDonline, and The Case Centre.
Treating Malnutrition in Haiti with Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods
Source:
Philips E, Rhatigan J. Treating Malnutrition in Haiti with Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods. Global Health Delivery Project, Harvard Business Publishing 2011. https://www.globalhealthdelivery.org/case-collection/case-studies/latin-america-and-caribbean/treating-malnutrition-in-haiti-with-rutf.