STUDENT SECTION

The African Graduate Nutrition Students Network

The African Graduate Nutrition Students Network was initiated by a group of graduate students studying Nutrition at Cornell University . The Network's purpose is to provide a forum for effective collaboration among African graduate students in Nutrition worldwide, and also among professionals interested in the promotion and the enhancement of better nutrition in Saharan Africa.

Recognizing the critical role that nutrition students from Africa play in dealing with problems of malnutrition on the African continent, as a group, we believe that communicating our research findings is an essential step toward fulfilling this role. Given the similarity in problems of malnutrition across most African countries, there is need to share ideas and to join efforts in implementing nutrition programs so as to deal comprehensively with the problems of malnutrition. Yet, despite similarities in nutrition problems in Africa , there seems to be very little inter-country collaboration among governments, research institutions and non-governmental organizations to implement such initiatives.

To foster scientific communication among African graduate students in nutrition, AGSNet encourages its members to publish their research findings with AJFAND. In this issue of the journal, we are proud to present the first two papers from AGSNet members. The two papers are related to diet during pregnancy and lactation.

In the first paper, Francis Tayie, a doctoral student in the department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University (USA), discusses factors motivating pica. Tayie explains that pica is usually observed during pregnancy pica. It is an eating disorder manifested as the craving for items that are unusual in kind or quantity. The items ingested can be food or non-food. Non-food substances include plastics, clay, mud and dirt. Food items include ice, freezer frost or iced drinks and uncooked starch.

In the second paper, I present findings from an anthropological study among the Swahili of Pemba Island, Tanzania. In this paper, I discuss culturally located dietary prescriptions and restrictions among lactating mothers. I explain that, among the Swahili of Pemba, foods such as meat and beans are restricted during lactation, as they are believed to increase post-partum pains in women who have recently delivered. However, foods such as octopus and roasted cassava are encouraged during lactation, as these are believed to increase milk supply.

These first two articles from members of the African Graduate Nutrition Students Network reflect the diversity and the breadth of knowledge among members of the network . We hope that, as the network continues to grow, we will have even greater diversity, and we will continue tackling nutrition problems that face the African continent in the most creative and resourceful ways.

In addition to encouraging members of the network to publish in peer-reviewed journals, we encourage participation in Nutrition conferences and workshops in or about Africa . As young professionals, we believe that early exposure to issues on the continent will better prepare us to address nutrition problems effectively. To enhance exposure, we sponsor travel related expenses for members of the network who present papers at conferences. To qualify for this sponsorship, we require that members be:

• Actively involved in the activities and the discussions of the Network;
• Willing to report back in writing to the Network within a week after attending the conference/workshop. The report will be published in the AGS-Net Newsletter;
• Close to the meeting venue or be willing to travel;
• Interested in the conference theme/topic
• Prepared to advocate for more membership to the network.

With regard to fostering communication in science, our third initiative is to host an inaugural conference that will coincide with the 2005 IUNS Congress in Durban , South Africa . The theme of this inaugural conference is “Nutrition and Infection in Sub-Saharan Africa.” As we discuss the theme of nutrition and infection at the network's inauguration, we hope to reiterate the importance of committing more resources and attention to combat the problem of malnutrition in the African continent. In the scientific session of the conference, we intend to include a keynote address, group and plenary discussions, as well as student posters. We wish to take this opportunity to encourage members of the network (both current and potential) to begin thinking of papers that they could present at the inauguration.

Finally, as a network, where would we be without AJFAND? We really appreciate AJFAND's initiative to foster communication among nutritionists in the continent. While preparing these four articles, Anne Wangalachi, Joseph Mutuku and Ruth Oniang'o were most helpful, and constantly challenged us to clarify and improve the presentation of our scientific results. This was our first collaboration with AJFAND. We know that it will not be the last. We look forward to future collaborations with the journal.

Lucy Thairu

For: African Graduate Nutrition Students Network
For more information about the African Graduate Nutrition Students Network, please visit our website: http://www.unu.edu/capacitybuilding/foodnutrition/ags-net/Index.htm