BAPIO POWDER

NEW HOPE FOR NIGERIAN HIV-INFECTED PEOPLE BY INSTAN MOI-MOI “BAPIO POWDER” (ENRICHED WITH PINEAPPLE, BANANA PEEL AND OYSTER MUSHROOM)

Annisa Ulfah Pristya^1
1Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Brawijaya University

Since the beginning of the pandemic, almost 34 million people currently living with HIV and nearly 30 million people have died because of AIDS. One of developing countries that living with HIV is Nigeria. 6.1 million of 140 million populations in Nigeria are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS by 2006 causes the public health and socio-economic implications are enormous. When infected with the HIV virus, the body's defence system works harder to fight infection. This increases nutrient requirements and also increases the body's demand for food. In Nigeria, one of the traditional foods is Moi-Moi, which made from bean, crayfish, egg, and spices. Therefore it is important to enrich the nutrition content of Moi-Moi to address malnourishment at HIV’s Nigerian by abundant, nutritional and functional materials in Nigeria especially banana and pineapple. The solution offered for Nigerian HIV is the production of instant moi-moi “Bapio Powder” which made from bean and eggs flour as base materials of Moi-Moi, enriched with pineapple, banana peel and oyster mushroom. Pineapple and banana are the high potential fruits in Nigeria. Both of them are the most frequent and abundant. Nigerian consumes more than 60% of the world’s plantain production which the banana peels are useless, whereas potential of banana peel hasn’t been exploited yet. 9,61 mg/ml bromelain enzyme from pineapple can break down proteins in the virus that causes AIDS and increase levels of CD4 which is an indicator of endurance at HIV. Vitamin B6 from banana peel can stimulate serotonin to play an anti-depressant to increase feed intake and body weight on heat stress conditions. Oyster mushrooms also add to “Bapio Powder”. It has essential nutrient at HIV such as β–glucans that act as an immunity-stimulating. Instant Moi-Moi contains 96 mg bromelain enzymes in a cup (110 gram) serving also doesn’t use any food additives as coloring agent neither chemical preservatives. Further, this product has low moisture content less than 10%, with a proper packaging the shelf life of the product will be long. Ingredient modification of instant Moi-Moi is a promising strategy and new hope to fighting HIV’s virus especially immune system deficiency in Nigeria. Since the low-income people cannot afford expensive therapy and HIV’s supplement, instant “Bapio Powder” will be a good alternative with a cheap price and give essential nutrition at HIV-infected people. It also provides a positive impact on social economic of Nigeria’s farmers.

Keywords: Banana Peel, Malnourishment, Oyster Mushroom, Pineapple, Supplement