Who Are We?

The NNIA is a multidisciplinary, educational organisation dedicated to the science of nutrition for people of all ages on the African continent. As one of its 13 chapters and the oldest outside of the USA, the NNIA forms part of the global structure of the Nestlé Nutrition Institute.

What We Are Not

We are not involved in the manufacture, marketing, distribution or promotion of infant formula or promotion of infant formula or Breast milk Substitutes.

What Are Our Aims?

  • To facilitate and foster the development, communication and application of sound nutrition research and understanding.
  • To connect scientists with technology in an effort to expand the boundaries of nutrition research, understanding and application.
  • To provide health care professionals with access to the most current and sound nutrition information, as well as tools they can utilise to guide them in making good nutrition choices.
  • To help health care professionals obtain a practical and enjoyable approach to nutrition.
  • To serve the health of communities through the sound application of nutrition practices.

What Do We Offer You?

You will find a wealth of information and activities on our website, including:

  • Access to tools for use in patient consultations
  • Continuing professional development (CPD) activities and additional educational material
  • Feedback and summaries of scientific meetings and presentations
  • Nestlé Nutrition workshop information and news
  • Application forms for scholarships
  • Nomination forms and information on NNIA scientific awards
  • Webinars
  • Publication reviews

Our Credo

Good nutrition begins before birth and is nurtured by the knowledge and pure joy of eating good food. The NNIA seeks to support health care providers and scientists as they serve those who wish make sound nutrition choices

Our Vision

To provide continuous access to the latest nutrition information to health care providers to empower them with knowledge, access and motivation necessary to promote good nutrition and healthy lifestyles throughout the lifecycle of the populations they are serving.

Our Partnerships

Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA)
The Kenya Paediatric Association (KPA) is an association whose principal members are paediatricians practicing in Kenya, but also include researchers, paediatricians in training and any other cadres of health workers as associates. The NNIA has been participating in their annual general meeting for the past two consecutive years, boasting an attendance of around 100 health care professionals in the NNIA nutrition symposia held in 2011 and 2012 in Mombasa.

In 2011, some 50 health workers including nurses, nutritionists, junior and senior doctors from eight hospitals in the Coast province were trained in the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, to improve the delivery of care for those with acute malnutrition in their hospitals.

UGAN
Established in October 1999 by professionals from various private and public sectors with an interest in nutrition, the aims of the Uganda Action for Nutrition (UGAN) are to advance and lobby for better nutrition for sustainable national development. UGAN has successfully collaborated with the Nestlé Nutrition Institute Africa (NNIA) and the Nestlé Foundation. This collaboration has included one-day scientific meetings and attendance of Continuous Nutrition Education (CNE) meetings courtesy of the NNIA, and sponsorships through the Nestlé Foundation for Masters’ students in nutrition.

CENER
The objectives of the Centre for Nutrition Education and Research (CENER) are to:

  • Promote, conduct and coordinate research and surveys in Kenya and provide continuing education in the field of nutrition to health professionals and others
  • Participate in the network of professionals with expertise in nutrition and related areas, and to cooperate with appropriate local. provincial, national and international bodies to disseminate nutrition research findings and reliable nutrition information
  • Act as a resource centre on nutrition matters to the public, students, researchers and the media, as well as collaborate with international nutrition bodies to certify and register dieticians/nutritionists to improve the international exchange

SAJCN
The SAJCN (South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition) is the official journal of SASPEN, ADSA (Association for Dietetics in South Africa) and the NSSA (Nutrition Society of South Africa). Distributed quarterly, it covers ALL aspects of nutrition. It is an international, peer-reviewed journal that is distributed free of charge to MEMBERS of the aforementioned societies. Through hosting the journal’s published CPD activities online, we extend the reach of the CPD programme.

SASPEN
The South African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition is active in the southern African region, promoting nutrition research and all forms of nutritional education. The NNIA is a key partner in supporting the publication of their bi-annual conferences’ abstract book

 

African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP)
The African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) is a leadership development and networking seminar aimed at assisting the development of future leaders in the field of human nutrition in Africa.  Emphasis is placed on understanding the qualities and skills of leaders, team building, communication and nutrition information in a broader context, and the role of nutrition science in the world around us. The partnership allows inpiduals wider participation in the programme.

University of Pretoria
The University’s Departments of Human Nutrition and the Centre for Nutrition Excellence annually host a two-day Continuous Nutrition Education (CNE) workshop. This scientific meeting of health care professionals presents new nutrition topics by speakers with knowledge and expertise in the field.

The successful annual CNE in South Africa is now being rolled out to other institutions with a one-day workshop taking place at and with the University of Limpopo and Free State University.

UNISA
In 2009 UNISA and the NNIA embarked on a partnership in which a short course in “Managing Health and Nutrition during Adverse Conditions” was developed. Its focus is to enable health workers or people educating the community to identify malnutrition and address it appropriately.

This course is offered annually to health care professionals who work with communities, groups and inpiduals affected by malnutrition and nutrition-related diseases. Bursaries are also offered to selected inpiduals annually. Between 2009 and 2011; 58 nurses from Zambia have completed the course successfully.