BASF Grameen Ltd.

Need:

In Bangladesh, approximately 8 million children under the age of 5 years are malnourished. The country has some of the highest child and maternal malnutrition rates according to the UNICEF State of the World's Children Report 2008. This in itself is a human tragedy. Malnutrition, however, is also a major impediment to development: malnourished people become sick more easily, can work less and find it more difficult to study. While Bangladesh produces sufficient rice to nourish its people, diets often lack vital nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.
Besides malnutrition other health problems pose a constant risk to the health of the Bangladeshi people. Malaria is one of the major health problems. According to the World Health Organization 72 percent of the population of Bangladesh are at risk of malaria.

Grameen Social Business solution:

In March 2009, BASF and Grameen Healthcare trust decided to found the Social Business BASF Grameen Ltd. to improve the health for people in Bangladesh through better nutrition and to provide protection against insect-borne diseases. Furthermore, it will give business opportunity to poor people who otherwise would not be able to build up a business without support.

BASF Grameen Ltd. is not a charity. It sells long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) and multi-micronutrient sachets (MMS) at a price affordable to the poor people in Bangladesh.

During a first phase, starting in 2009, distribution of the sachets focuses on large consumers like schools and established distribution channels such as pharmacies. This will familiarize people with the benefit and correct use of the sachets for quicker results in the fight against malnutrition. In the second phase, the sachets will be directly distributed via the established Grameen network.

The insecticidal-treated nets will be distributed in urban areas via grocery stores and supermarkets, and in rural areas via the established Grameen networks. The use of insecticidal nets will provide effective protection to the poor people in Bangladesh against malaria and other insect-borne diseases.

Thereby, BASF Grameen Ltd. contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to end poverty.

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