Fortifying cooking oil for children's health

More than half a million children under the age of five have died in Tanzania in the past decade as a result of inadequate nutrition, but a new joint project with some Waterloo roots will increase access to one important micronutrient and potentially save lives.

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), the University of Waterloo, and Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania just launched a two-and-a-half-year project aimed at reducing vitamin A deficiency using fortified foods.

"This initiative works with local processors to crush locally grown sunflower seed and produce vitamin A sunflower oil to address local micronutrient deficiencies," said Thom Dixon, director, business of health at MEDA, and one of the project's principal investigators.

In Tanzania, about a third of all children under the age of five and women under age 50 suffer from vitamin A deficiency.

"In many rural areas, diets are lacking in basic micronutrients needed to build strong immune systems and fight disease, and vitamin A is a particular challenge in selected regions of our country," said Professor Theobald Mosha, professor of human nutrition and public health, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Sokoine University of Agriculture, and one of the principal investigators. 

To promote the new fortified oil, an innovative electronic voucher developed in Canada will deliver subsidies to people in targeted communities and help foster demand.

"This project is expected to increase food security and encourage local economic growth by using a locally produced crop, processed at local businesses, and sold in local retailers," said Professor Susan Horton, CIGI chair in global health economics, University of Waterloo and the third principal investigator of the project.

The project supports the Tanzanian government’s national food fortification campaign, launched in 2013 to increase access to these enhanced foods. Canada’s International Development Research Centre and Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada funded this initiative under the Canadian International Food Security Research Fund.

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Remembering Mary Bales

by Dana Ciak, Office of Advancement.

Prominent community member, past University of Waterloo board member, alumna and philanthropist Mary Bales (MA ’72, MPHIL ’73) died Friday December 12.

Mary’s philanthropic leadership is well-known in this community and includes founding the Heartwood Place Foundation, an organization that supports affordable housing in the region, hands-on volunteering at shelters for abused women, her support of the YWCA and Habitat for Humanity, and leadership volunteer roles at the United Way and Grand River Hospital.  A prominent member of the real estate field, Mary was part of the Coldwell Banker Realty team, where she was consistently one of the top performers in Canada and around the world.  

Bales was one of the University’s most loyal supporters. As a double degree holder from the Faculty of Arts, Mary held numerous volunteer positions at Waterloo, including membership on the board of governors and the Building a Talent Trust Campaign Cabinet. She was generous in her financial support of the University and directed her philanthropy to students, endowing a graduate student scholarship. In 2010, the University of Waterloo recognized Mary for her corporate and philanthropic leadership with an honorary doctorate of laws. Before this Mary was awarded Waterloo’s Arts Alumni Award in 2002 and was one of the University’s Top 50 alumni celebrated in 2007.

The University of Waterloo is saddened by the news of Mary’s passing and sends condolences to Mary’s family and many friends.

Visitations will take place on Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Erb & Good Funeral Home in Waterloo. The funeral service will take place on Friday, December 19 at noon at Knox Presbyterian Church.

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Wednesday's notes

Institutional Analysis & Planning will be closed today from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. for a staff function.

The Finance - Student Accounts Office will be closed on Thursday, December 18 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. for the Finance Christmas lunch.

Human Resources is reporting the following faculty retirements, effective January 1, 2015:

• Professor G. Keith Warriner, who started at the University in July 1985, retires as Associate Professor, Sociology and Legal Studies; and
• Professor Metin Renksizbulut, who began working at Waterloo in July 1983, retires as Professor – Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.
  

In addition, Human Resources is reporting the following staff retirements, effective January 1, 2015:

• Marlene Skinner, who started at the University in November 1988, retires as Department Secretary in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering;
• Ray Butterworth, who started work at Waterloo in June 1981, retires as Software Specialist in MFCF;
• Wendy Grant, who started at the University in November 1987 retires as Student Accounts Systems Specialist – Finance;
• Lynn Judge, who began working at Waterloo in October 1979, retires as Director, Graduate Academic Services – Graduate Studies Office; and
• Susan Phillips, who began her career at Waterloo in August 1970, retires as Undergraduate Advisor and Program Administrator – Geography and Environmental Management.
  

International spouses and international students are invited to an event on Saturday, December 20 at 1:00 p.m. - a visit to the Woodside National Historic Site in Kitchener with Nancy Matthews. "The lovely, historic house will be decorated for an 1891 Victorian Christmas," writes Matthews. Full details are available on the International Spouses website. Please RSVP via email to Nancy Matthews by Friday, December 19.

Employers on campus hosting employer information sessions for the week of January 5 - 9 include: EY, Mozilla, CIBC, Noom, Infusion, Enflick, Maluuba Inc. & OPSEU Pension Trust. Visit the info sessions calendar for more information.

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