30 August 2005

South Africans can now help feed hungry children via SMS. The organisation Men in Partnership Against Aids (Mipaa) and the Limpopo Department of Health have set up a text message helpline allowing people to donate money to Mipaa's Feed A Child campaign.

Sending the text HELP L.MIPAA to the number 37555 will donate R7.50 to the feeding scheme.

Mipaa provincial chairperson Elvis Ramogale said on Monday that the campaign will identify Aids orphans in Limpopo who need food parcels.

"Some children go to school on empty stomachs, and don't have the energy to listen and do their school work," Ramogale said.

The Feed A Child campaign is to supplement existing feeding initiatives, he said.

"Our aim is not to create dependency on food parcels, but help fill the stomachs of hungry children out there."

Ramogale said Mipaa would monitor the children's nutritional status once they had started receiving the food parcels.

The parcels, developed by a nutritionist, are rich in proteins, vitamins, calcium, iron and zinc.

Mipaa is a national NGO aiming to change men's attitudes towards HIV/Aids, encouraging them to take responsibility for their sexual health.

Limpopo Department of Health spokesperson Phuti Seloba encouraged the public to contribute to the campaign.

"The department has always had the philosophy that 'my child is your child'," Seloba said.

Source: Bua News

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