World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Zumba enthusiasts, UN staff and Ministry of Health employees celebrate the launch of "The Great Calorie Drive" in Mbabane, Swaziland. The campaign benefits WFP's Food by Prescription programme, which provides food assistance to malnourished HIV, TB and PMTCT patients to improve their nutritional recovery and treatment success.

The fund-raising campaign, created by Zumba Fitness, supports WFP’s efforts to fight hunger in Swaziland and Nicaragua.  In Swaziland, nutrition support is fundamental to improving the lives of those infected and affected by HIV and TB.

WFP staff members enjoyed the hour-long Zumba class held at the Curves gym in Mbabane on 30 May 2013.  WFP Swaziland works closely with the Ministry of Health to deliver lifesaving food to malnourished women and men on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and their families to prevent them from sliding into food insecurity and deeper vulnerability. 

“The Great Calorie Drive” raises awareness of the importance of food assistance for malnourished patients on anti-retroviral and tuberculosis treatment and it will benefit thousands of men and women in Swaziland affected by HIV and TB.

UNICEF staff join in the fun and donate the calories they burn to the Zumba Fitness campaign to help fight hunger in Swaziland.  Approximately 25 percent of the population in Swaziland is food insecure as a result of low agricultural productivity, the negative impact of HIV/AIDS and poverty.

During the three-month camaign Zumba Fitness challenged the world to donate 2.6 billion calories that will equate to 3.5 million meals toward hunger-relief efforts. These meals help Food by Prescription beneficieres improve their nutritional status, as well as adhere to their ART and TB medications.