Island Food Presents in PNG Video Seminar

By Dr. Lois Englberger

On 7 September, 2007, the Island Food Community of Pohnpei (IFCP), supported by the Media Instructional Technology Center (MITC) of the College of Micronesia(COM)-FSM, presented a paper to a nutrition seminar titled "Nutrition in PNG- present situation, challenges and solutions", held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

An exciting thing about this activity was that it was a video seminar bringing participants together from the PNG Department of Health, PNG Association of Public Health (APH), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Clinton Foundation, and the international linkages, including Pohnpei, Fiji (USP), and two universities in Australia (University of Queensland and Australian National University).

Luciano Matthias of MITC explained that Pohnpei was connected via the Pan-Pacific Education and Communication Experiments by Satellite (PEACESAT) linkage based in Hawaii, and that the transmission from PNG went first to Washington DC, to Hawaii, and finally to MITC at COM-FSM in Palikir, Pohnpei. The purpose of PEACESAT is for furthering education and health.

The main presentation focused on the findings of the PNG National Micronutrient Survey, conducted in 2005 as a project of the PNG Department of Health, University of Papua New Guinea, UNICEF and CDC.

IFCP spoke on the topic "Addressing the Pacific Obesity problem- the Micronesian Local Foods Initiatives." The four participants from Pohnpei were Adelino Lorens, Dr. Lois Englberger and Sylvia Nennis of IFCP and Luciano Mathias. The group in Pohnpei was the only group making a presentation other than the three presenters in PNG. Wila Saweri, from the PNG Department of Health, who chaired the conference, pointed out, "A video seminar can save a lot of money, like for travel ". During the conference, the camera moved from the presenter or facilitator to the power point presentation, and from one site to another, so that conference participants at each site could see one another and also ask questions.

Adelino Lorens explained IFCP's formation and its vision, promoting island foods for food security, health, economics, environment and culture. Dr. Englberger explained how consuming local foods can help protect against obesity and disease such as diabetes, heart attack, cancer, vitamin A deficiency and anemia. She presented examples of IFCP awareness materials and activities, conservation of local food crops, local food processing and research, including the Traditional Food for Health project, a case study in the global health project led by the Centre for Indigenous People's Nutrition and Environment.

Thanks are extended to the PNG team of Wila Saweri, Maxine Whittaker, and Daniel Olen who did an amazing job of organizing, Clementine Yaman (UNICEF PNG), Russell Kitau (PNG APH), the Pohnpei team including Gordon Segal and Bruce Robert (COM-FSM), and all presenters and participants, making this quite a unique experience. Thanks also to Dwain Tomavoko and Dodi Doiwa of the World Bank's Global Development Learning Network, Youth & Information, who made it all happen.

Recipe of the Week: Green Papaya Salad

• 1 small green papaya
• 1 small almost ripe papaya
• 1 tablespoon coconut or salad oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon [or other citrus] juice
• Salt, pepper

1. Remove skin from papaya and grate (about 2 cups).
2. Soak grated papaya in salted water for about 20 minutes, thin rinse and drain.
3. Mix together: coconut or salad oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of pepper.
4. Pour mixture over grated papaya and let stand for at least 10 minutes, then serve.

NOTE: A pinch of salt is optional, but for health reasons it is best to avoid salt when possible. Taken from the Fiji Food and Nutrition Newsletter.