Message-ID: <s1e4dfe2.047@jsi.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 11:03:55 -0400 From: Project Omni <mailto:omni_project@JSI.COM> Subject: INFORMATION RESOURCE ON MICRONUTRIENT MALNUTRITION To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
******OMNI NEWS FLASH********OMNI NEWS FLASH*******OMNI NEWS **************************************************************************************INFORMATION RESOURCE ON MICRONUTRIENT MALNUTRITION AVAILABLE NOW ON "MN-NET"
The Micronutrient Initiative (MI), has announced the availability of MN-NET, an electronic information resource on micronutrient malnutrition. MN-NET is an Internet web site and a subset of MI's home page, providing information on different aspects of micronutrient malnutrition and its control. It may be visited using the following uniform resource locator: http://www.idrc.ca/mi/mnnet.htm
The MN-NET site contains updated data on prevalence and status of programs to eliminate and control micronutrient deficiencies of vitamin A, iron and iodine, along with current news and activities relevant to global efforts to eliminate micronutrient malnutrition. The urgent need for an agency to facilitate access to data and information on micronutrient malnutrition became apparent at an international meeting on "Micronutrient Databases: Availability and Accessibility Issues" organized and hosted by Micronutrient Initiatives in Ottawa in February, 1995. The MI volunteered to serve as such an information facilitator.
Most of the information and data now available on the MN-NET comes from relevant databases maintained by WHO, UNICEF, ICCIDD, USAID and MI. In addition, consultancy reports, country documents, scientific literature and other sources are consulted for extraction of any updated information. As the network becomes more operational, it is hoped that MN-NET users will also be information providers for the MN-NET. Currently users of MN-NET can find a general overview of micronutrient malnutrition, a country-by-country presentation of the current status of micronutrient malnutrition and the status of control programs in each country, program reports on salt iodization and food fortification compiled by UNICEF as well as other micronutrieint-related events and activities, a summary of information sources, and a listing and description of agencies involved with micronutrients. From the MN-NET home page it is possible to identify other potentially useful web sites to which MN-NET provides automatic linkages.
Among the future plans for MN-NET are: creation of electronic discussion groups; establishment of technical databases to include information on methods, lab techniques, sampling, data analysis, etc.; preparation of primary pages of MN-NET in other languages, particularly French and Spanish; and provision of further links to other web sites of interest. For those who do not have direct internet connection diskettes will be made available.
OMNI and MI now have a direct electronic link between OMNI's Home Page and the MN- NET, which allows users to access information easily from each site. The OMNI Home Page, at http://www.jsi.com/intl/omni/home, provides information on a range of micronutrient issues and OMNI activities in English, French and Spanish. Resources include: OMNI publications, such as the OMNI Update, OMNI Briefs, Micronutrient Fact Sheets, and Manuals; information about OMNI Research; descriptions of country projects; information about OMNI partners and personnel; and much more.
For more information on the global micronutrient network MN-NET, please contact:
Mahshid Lotfi, Senior Program Officer, MI Email: mailto:mlotfi@idrc.ca
***************************************************************************** OPPORTUNITIES FOR MICRONUTRIENT INTERVENTIONS (OMNI) is funded by the Office of Health and Nutrition of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington, D.C. and managed by John Snow, Inc. OMNI's mission is accomplished by developing integrated, comprehensive programs and strategies to reduce and eliminate major micronutrient deficiencies throughout the developing world. Participating countries are based on their micronutrient malnutrition problems, commitment by local officials (public and private) to micronutrient activities, and their capacity to achieve and sustain a demonstrable impact.
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