Why is Global Health Day Important to Amway Corporation?
by Jeff Terry, Global Head, Amway Corporate Social Responsibility
Today, Amway joins the world in recognizing Global Health Day. Established in 1950 to mark the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations World Health Organization, Global Health Day raises awareness and mobilizes partners to address key global health issues.
The intent of this important day closely aligns with Amway’s Corporate Social Responsibility belief – by using the best of our business and the passion of our people we can solve global challenges and improve individual communities all over the world.
Amway uses our expertise in nutrition to improve the nutritional health and wellness of children around the world, and to reduce the incidences of malnutrition in children under 5. Through the Nutrilite Power of 5 Campaign, and partnerships with CARE and other NGO organizations, we have supported tens of thousands of children with Nutrilite Little Bits, all in an effort to prevent or reduce the prevalence of malnutrition.
Nutrilite Little Bits is a micronutrient powder enhanced with plant nutrients that provides 15 essential vitamins and minerals for children 6 months to 5 years old. The powder is in a one-gram packets that families mix into a child’s food once a day.
On World Food Day last year, Amway announced a new goal to reach 500,000 children in 20 countries by the end of 2019. Themed the “Nutrilite Power of 5 – 1000 Days initiative,” this new effort brings awareness and understanding about why the first 1,000 days of development are most critical for a child’s survival, and ability to learn and grow.
Just this past week the Power of 5 Campaign was “on the ground” in Southern Africa (Click here to see the Facebook LIVE broadcast) to monitor the impact of their efforts are having on numerous children and families. With partners CARE and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), we provided update monitoring, evaluation training, and new tablets for improved programs. In the past year, Amway has expanded our programs in Indonesia, achieved a year of successful programs in Vietnam, and experienced five years of successful programs in Zambia.
Amway is committed to addressing the issue of childhood malnutrition, and is partnering with some of the best and brightest people and organizations from within the global health and development community. Together we are not only developing strategies, implementation models and approaches, but we’re creating tangible solutions that are making a difference in the lives of children and their families.
So, the question is not why Global Health Day is important to Amway Corporation. The question is, why Global Health Day isn’t important to all of us.