Cognito®: Fortifying Children Against Malnutrition!

The importance of micronutrients in maintaining good health cannot be overstated. Micronutrient deficiencies can have detrimental effects on overall well-being, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children. This is where Micronutrient Laboratories Limited (MLL) steps in with their innovative solution - Cognito® Instant MNP.

Cognito in sachets and packets

We're incredibly excited to share a story that's changing lives across Nigeria! On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, Micronutrient Laboratories Limited officially launched Cognito® Micronutrient Powder (MNP), a groundbreaking solution designed to tackle the urgent threat of infant malnutrition head-on. And in the years since, it's not just breaking records; it's building a healthier future for our children.

From Innovation to Impact: The Rapid Rise of Cognito MNP

Since its introduction, Cognito® MNP has seen phenomenal growth and acceptance, especially among key institutional partners. Major players like the Federal Ministry of Health and various other government agencies at both federal and state levels have quickly embraced Cognito® MNP, recognizing its vital role in public health initiatives.

Why the rapid adoption? Because Cognito® MNP delivers on a critical promise: to significantly enhance the nutritional value of everyday foods for children aged six months to five years. It's a product and a brand born out of a pressing need, designed with one goal in mind – to nurture our nation's most vulnerable.

The Alarming Truth: Nigeria's Malnutrition Crisis

The statistics paint a stark picture, underscoring the urgent need for solutions like Cognito® MNP. According to UNICEF, Nigeria carries the second-highest burden of stunted children globally, with a shocking 32% national prevalence rate among children under five. This means nearly one-third of our youngest population are too short for their age, a clear indicator of chronic undernutrition.

Furthermore, an estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Yet, alarmingly, only two out of every ten affected children currently receive treatment. The UNICEF, WHO, and World Bank Group's Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates, 2020, highlight the multifaceted nature of this challenge, identifying three primary categories:

• Stunting: 144 million children under-5 are too short for their age.

• Wasting: 47 million are too thin for their height.

• Overweight: 38 million children under 5 are overweight.

  
  

These figures emphasize that malnutrition isn't a single issue but a complex web of nutritional deficiencies and imbalances impacting millions of lives.

A Local Solution to a Global Challenge: Dr. Kenny Acholonu's Vision

At the heart of this innovation is Dr. Kenny Acholonu, Chief Innovation Officer at Micronutrient Laboratories Limited. Dr. Acholonu passionately explains that Cognito® MNP is "a readily available micronutrient powder for optimising the nutritive value of local foods for all malnourished children, including those in challenging settings such as conflict areas, IDPs, and poverty-chains."

His vision directly addresses a crucial call to action from international agencies concerned with high infant mortality rates linked to food deficiencies and a lack of local manufacturing capacity. "Rotary International and UNICEF threw the challenge of local production of micronutrient powder in Nigeria in 2009," Dr. Acholonu recounts. "Before and since then, Nigeria has imported MNP. They approached me based on a recommendation by BASF, the world leader in chemicals. My team and I took up the challenge. We produced Micronutrient powder to global standards.”

He firmly asserts, “Cognito® will assist Nigeria to tackle the problem of micronutrient deficiency. It will be useful in tackling the challenge of food lacking in vital nutrients that many of our deprived citizens eat and serve their children.”

The Science Behind the Success: What Makes Cognito MNP Unique

Rachael Amadasun, Technical Manager at Micronutrient Laboratories, elaborates on the meticulous formulation behind Cognito® MNP. "Cognito® MNP is a single-serve blend of 15 essential micronutrients (10 vitamins and five minerals)," she explains. This powerful 1-gram powder is designed to seamlessly enhance the nutritional content of most staple foods.

The beauty lies in its ease of use: simply add Cognito® MNP to semi-solid foods and porridges after cooking and at a temperature suitable for feeding. Crucially, just one sachet of Cognito® MNP provides 100% of the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for children aged six months to 59 months.

This approach, known as home fortification, is a key intervention strategy championed by the Federal Government to prevent micronutrient deficiencies in children under five years old. And with NAFDAC certification firmly in hand, Cognito® MNP assures safety, quality, and effectiveness.

The journey to end malnutrition is long, but with innovations like Cognito® MNP leading the way, we're taking monumental strides forward. Join us in celebrating this groundbreaking record and the healthier future it promises for Nigerian and African children.