October 14th is World Sight Day followed by World Food Day on October 16th, and Vitamin Angels and It's Moringa have partnered together to #endhiddenhunger by raising money for VA's vitamin A and multiple micronutrient programs - Operation 20/20 and Thrive to Five. Just include the hashtag #endhiddenhunger in your tweets from October 11-16th, and It's Moringa will donate 1 cent for every hashtag tweeted (up to $1,000). Since it only takes 25 cents to provide a child with vitamin A for a year, together we can raise enough money to provide 4,000 children with vitamin A and spread the word to friends, family, and the entire Twitterverse about the importance of micronutrients. 

Why micronutrients?

One common misconception about hunger and undernutrition is that it is caused by simply not getting enough to eat. But for the majority of under- and malnourished children in the developing world, the hidden problem behind their fragile immune systems and underdeveloped bodies is a lack of mincronutrients.  

Here are some facts about childhood undernutrition and "hidden hunger":

• • ONE THIRD of all childhood deaths are caused by undernutrition.
  • Vitamin A is essential to immune function especially in children under five who are most vulnerable to common infections and diseases.
  • An estimated 190 MILLION children under five suffering from vitamin A deficiency (VAD) worldwide

  • ONE high-dose vitamin A capsule can provide one child with sufficient vitamin A for six months

  • For deficient children, the periodic supply of high-dose vitamin A has been shown to reduce mortality by 23%.

  • Vitamin Angels' cost to provide a single child with vitamin A and antiparasitics for a year is 25 CENTS. 
    

     

For young children, essential nutrients help build the foundation for good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives. Join us in taking a stand against hidden hunger this October and send out the tweet below or a tweet of your own with the #endhiddenhunger hashtag. Come back and visit this page to track our progress and see what others are saying about our campaign to put a stop childhood hidden hunger.

"One third of childhood deaths are caused by malnutrition. Help us #endhiddenhunger. 1 cent donated per tweet. www.endhiddenhunger.org." Tweet this. 

It’s Moringa is a new vertically integrated company offering what is considered by many as the most nutrient-rich vegetable tree discovered to date – Moringa Oleifera. With their "It's For Life" business model, the team at It's Moringa, with the help of Vitamin Angels and Nourish America, links purchases of  their moringa products to end malnutrition. The model also educates the natural food industry and general public on the many health benefits of moringa.

This year, It's Moringa will launch their current line of moringa based products at the 2010 Natural Products Expo East trade show. To learn more about products from It's Moringa, click here.