By Ramadhan Kambi
Kilifi County government has launched its County Nutrition Action Plan (2019-2022) as its efforts to address malnutrition and stunting in children in the county.
The four-year plan which provides a framework on how the devolved government will address the situation was launched by Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi on behalf of Governor Amason Kingi at Silver Palm hotel in Kilifi on Tuesday afternoon.
Addressing the media after the launch Eng Saburi said the county understands the importance of good nutrition and that an elaborate plan to address the situation especially on women and children is on its way.
“Our county has recorded several cases of malnutrition among children. Most of them don’t get good food and that this plan which will be undertaken by our health department will closely follow on these cases and act on them because if that does not happen then we might end up having children with challenges during adulthood,” he said.
The DG said that the plan was first launched in 2019 and after data collection on the status in the region, it has now reached its implementation plan to make it fully functional.
“This plan was started in 2019 and we are now in the implementation period and the focus at the moment is that we want by 2022, we shall have improved the lives of our children. But this plan won’t end on its launch here, we shall be following to make sure that women and children benefit from it,” he said.
Kilifi County Health executive Charles Dadu said the plan was done in collaboration with different sector players and also with the national government.
“This is the second phase of this plan and among the key issues addressed in the plan is how malnutrition is affecting the growth of children. Statistics have shown that four out of ten children are malnourished and their growth is affected. This plan will look on different aspects that touch on good nutrition which include healthy food growing, training and also the availability of food supplements,” said Mr Dadu.
According to the document, two in every five children are stunted a number estimated to be 86,883 children representing 40 per cent.
One in every two children in Ganze, Kaloleni and Magarini Sub counties are stunted while three in every ten children in Kilifi South, Kilifi North, Malindi and Rabai Sub counties are stunted.
The report further says that stunting has a long term effects which include diminished cognitive interference with school performance and physical development. It has also an effect on overall reduced productivity and health.
“Children who escape stunting are 33 per cent more likely to escape poverty as adults,” the report reveals.
The report further reveals that 4.6 per cent of children under the age of five years in the county face acute malnutrition while 4.7 per cent of children in Ganze, Kaloleni and Magarini Sub County are wasted (acute malnutrition).
4.6 per cent of children in Kilifi South, Kilifi North, Malindi and Rabai Sub counties are stunted,” the report further adds.
