AED/POUZN Field Activities

AED/ POUZN's Deputy Director visited Tanzania in May 2006 to follow-up on contacts made during his previous visit and to meet with zinc manufacturers. One manufacturer has already begun development of zinc dispersible tablets, palatability testing was found excellent. The product is now under accelerated stability testing. This manufacturer intends to market the new low osmolarity ORS as well. A marketing plan will be jointly developed with POUZN. Two other local manufacturers have confirmed their interest in marketing zinc.

AED/ POUZN's Director traveled to India in April 2006 where he met with the POUZN Country Director to visit with several pharmaceutical companies manufacturing zinc in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad. Four companies have launched or are about to launch zinc with POUZN providing technical assistance in training, international speaker coordination, and marketing planning.

The Director also traveled to Bangladesh and Guatemala in April and May 2006 to attend the Regional Zinc Task Force meetings. At both meetings, he made presentations on the POUZN approach using the private sector platform to allow expanded access and increased affordability to the poor.