Breif Profile

Dr. Ayman Balla Mustafa Yassien graduated from University of Juba with B.Sc. Honors in Natural Resources and Environmental studies. He received M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Nutrition and Dairy Sciences from University of Khartoum, Sudan. He focused in Ph.D. study on nutritional values and medicinal properties of camel milk. It was comparative study on camels reared in free range farming system. He served as Lecturer of Nutrition Sciences at College of Rural Development and Community Studies, University of Juba. Later, he joined as Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Butana University. Currently, he works as Associate Professor at Therapeutic Nutrition Department (TND), Misurata University, Libya. He conducted many scientific researches, field experiments and technical reports in area of diet biotherapy and nutritional biochemistry, specifically focusing camel products. During his studies in natural pastures and desert region he conducted many studies on camel pastoralist's food security, lifestyle and livelihood. He participated in many international conferences, workshop and symposia concerning diet therapy and camel milk production areas. He had published many research articles in international platforms and journals. In addition, he has written two books. He is also serving as reviewer and editor in peer-reviewed journals. He is looking forward to innovation to use camel milk as biotherapy source in series of experiments concerning chronic diseases and nutritional purposes. Currently, he is actively involved in a scientific project, 'Medical and Nutrition Properties of Dromedary Camel Milk in Sahara'.

Summary:

This research will be conducted in semi-desert areas of camel pastoralism in Sudan. There are many variable pastoral systems in Sudan, these include sedentary, semi-nomads, nomads and transhumance system. The research will focus on children under 5 years, who’s belonging to pastoral community in east Sudan as well as study population in addition to household food issues. The study aims to investigate prevalence of malnutrition and co-issues among children, whose attributed to camel pastoralism in Eastern Sudan. Cross-section on community base study will be used as research design, face to face interview to examine the clinical, physical, hematological and anthropometric measurements as well as food security and livelihood issues. The data finding will be used as database of nutrition screening among children under 5 years in pastoral area, these necessary data for decision-making by the international health organizations and country government to improve nutritional status.

Main Objectives of Project:

• To know how much the degree of malnutrition in preschoolers throughout anthropometric measurements, laboratory investigation and clinical features.
• To assessment of socio-economic aspects and livelihood of pastoral community eastern Sudan.
• To investigate dietary patterns, eating habits and most common diseases of preschoolers in pastoral community.
• To clarify dietary approaches, that used in food supply and household food security

Main Activities of Project:

• Selective groups of pastoralists from different areas should be interviewed in the study. Face to face interview will be conducted in order to gather accurate information on the health and nutrition status among children under 5 years and household food security of the pastoral community.
• The study population will be selected based on areas, tribes and villages. Randomly selection will be done to investigate about malnutrition, malnutrition comorbidities, household food security and livelihood methods in pastoral community. Thus will be achieved by trained graduated students. The tools of field survey will be satisfied to acquire more information fill full the purpose of survey.
• The filed visits will be planned in summer where no rain or any limitations of transportation to pastorals community.4) Mobile laboratory will be used to investigate about hematological test, biochemical evaluations.
• Portable scales, anthropometric measurements tools, and assessment records.
• The team of research involves three researchers (senior academic researcher in addition to two junior researchers).

Outline of Prospective Projects:

Project-1

Project-2

Project-3