SUN Nutrition Program

Contents

• Background
• Rationale
• What is it?
• Ingredients
• Preparation
• Nutrition values
• Progress reports

Background

When Tim Galbraith from Australia first visited India in 1976, he discussed child nutrition problems with a retired medical superintendent of Vellore Medical College Hospital. The doctor commented on the waste of money and energy by foreign organisations setting up residential homes and hostels for disadvantaged or nutritionally vulnerable children – when with less effort and money much of the problem could be tackled by keeping children with their natural family and taking steps to improve and supplement their nutritional intake. This led Tim to set up, with guidance from the doctor, and use of WHO nutrition guidelines, what is now known as the ‘SUN Program’ – Supplementary Nutrition Program.

At the outset he financed a small pilot operation, and sought to introduce it wherever he could obtain reliable volunteer helpers. One major centre was established in Tenali, where Dr Scrinavasa Rao, with his wife and daughters, ran a number nutrition centres.

By 1982 there were 12 distribution points for the nutrition drink, supplied three times a week to the impoverished and under-nourished children of the poorest segments of the population.

In 2019, Tim Galbraith requested that this become a project of the newly-incorporated Hill of Hope Foundation. Hill of Hope Foundation was happy to take this on.

There are now, in 2020, over 24 distribution centres in various areas in India.

Rationale

• Malnutrition and under-nutrition still affect 34% of children in India according to Govt of India and UNICEF Reports.
• Family life is disturbed by many of these children being placed in institutional care.
• A simple supplement preparation from locally available ingredients can significantly reduce the nutrition problems.
• Attendance three times a week at the distribution centre allows observation of any specific health needs.
• Regular contact allows preparation of non-school attending children for readiness for streaming into formal education.

What is it?

Each batch of the nutritional drink is a mixture of the following ingredients: Ragi flour, green gram, Bengal gram, groundnuts, milk powder, jaggery, and where especially needed, vitamin drops.

Ingredients

* Solidified concentrated sugar syrup heated to 200°C. Traditionally, the syrup is made by boiling raw sugarcane juice. It retains many more mineral salts than refined sugar, and is more slowly released to the bloodstream.

** The darker flecks are the coating from the Ragi. The shelf life is about 6 weeks, so fresh flour is supplied every two weeks to each Centre.

Preparation

The milk powder is mixed to normal milk strength (15 litres) and separately the flour (made from grinding the four grains / nuts) is mixed in water & cooked to a porridge consistency.

Then the milk and jaggery is added and mixed well, and vitamins added (if needed). It is served as a thick drink – 180ml per child three times a week.

Nutrition values

Nutrition Analysis of Nutrition Supplement Ingredients:

The nutrient composition of one drink is as follows:

Energy	135 kcals
Protein	7.83 g
Calcium	140 mg
Iron	2.9 mg
Vitamin A	3,300 IU
Thiamine	2.12 mg
Riboflavin	2.10 mg
Niacin	24.37 mg
Vitamin C	25 mg
Vitamin D	150 IU

Progress reports

These are not the only reports that have been made; there were other reports between 2014 and 2019, but we haven’t published them here at this time.

• 2014 report: this was the first regular report in the current format, and includes details of the program, with news from each area.
• 2019 report: updated statistics, details on becoming a Hill of Hope Friend, and a letter of appreciation.
• 2022 newsletter: information about work during Covid, and details from each centre.