HETN / SANTA Feeding Project
Despite being a curable disease, TB continues to spread at an alarming rate in Africa. A major reason for this is the high prevalence of compromised immune systems resulting from poor living conditions, poor standards of hygiene, poverty, malnutrition, stress and the escalating HIV/AIDS pandemic. The latest South African statistics (2006) show a continued increase in reported TB cases:
  • 266,214 cases of pulmonary TB - an increase of 288% in 10 years.
  • Reported treatment defaulter rate has increased to 9.9%.
  • Drug-resistant cases are currently estimated at > 6,000, which has doubled over the past 2 to 3 years.
Clearly, TB is at crisis levels and needs to be at centre stage of all health and funding issues. Drug-resistant TB threatens to damage the very fabric of society. TB infection is suspected to be present in >66% of South Africa’s population. A lack of proper nutrition is contributing in no small measure to the rapid rise in active TB cases and to the high levels of treatment failure:
  • Lowered immunity from nutrient deficiencies is enabling dormant TB to become active.
  • A lack of good nutrition is increasing drug side-effects, encouraging non-compliance.
  • Treatment interruption results in relapse and drug resistance.
  • Drug-resistant TB is highly contagious and spreads to others in the drug-resistant form. It is very difficult and expensive to treat.
  • Correcting nutrient deficiencies strengthens immunity and improves outcomes for TB patients.
  • Good nutrition enhances the efficacy of TB drugs and reduces side effects.
  • Improving the nutrition of TB contacts assists in keeping TB infection in a dormant state.

For this project, HETN is partnering with the South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA), which was formed in 1947. SANTA is keen to create a model for community-based intervention, with nutrition at the core.

They believe that good nutrition will reduce the time for conversion and reduce both recurrence and transmission among family members.
HETN is providing the nutrition, in the form of e'Pap, for as many TB patients and their immediate contacts - including care workers - as possible. e'Pap is a novel, pre-cooked, MVM-fortified, wholegrain, maize / soya / sorghum mix, which has been shown to be effective in restoring healthy nutritional status in individuals who were reviously nutritionally deplete. It delivers in a single food portion 28 nutrients in a bioavailable form.
Early reports from care workers are impressive:
  • e’Pap has given us hope in this patient. She was on the verge of dying. e’Pap has revitalised her.
  • Weight improvement. Energetic. Now able to do things for herself. e’Pap brings a lot of changes in this patient’s life.
  • Changes in one week. Patient shows signs of recovery. e’Pap helps in the healing process.

It may surprise you to know that it costs just £2 per month to provide a TB patient with a daily meal of e’Pap.


The importance of proper nutrition, particularly for TB patients, cannot be overstressed. Just observe these
‘before and after e’Pap’ pictures.

This project is critical and will have a major role in ensuring that the importance of good nutrition in
TB management is understood. Careful monitoring and evaluation will prove the point.

For every pound you donate to HETN, we spend one pound on e’Pap meal portions.

You may wonder why e’Pap works if it is so inexpensive. It is because it is an African solution. It has been established as an intervention for 8 years. It is distributed in 15 African countries.

At HETN, we are impressed. You should be too. Please help Africa to help itself.

Click here to make a donation now.

[ Back ]