Compared to the average World Vision project, this was considerably larger than anything I'd been involved with before. This was a national program, and quite large. One of the greatest obstacles to overcoming deficiencies of particular micronutrients was the traditional Malawi diet, which is centred about the preparation of a porridge made from maize meal. It is served three times a day. It's something that you ultimately want to work towards because it's the most sustainable way of going about it.
Pills costs money and fortification costs money.
Dr. Dil expected many families would resist adapting their diets quickly. People are very set in how they prepare their maize - it's almost mystical. Nonetheless, he found some surprising results. In some villages, families quickly embraced suggestions to grow native crops that were rich in targeted nutrients, and took in chickens for nutritional value. He and his family plan to return to development work in Africa in the future.