Embu County in central Kenya in collaboration with Nutrition International (NI) has launched a food and nutrition security policy to combat the high rate of malnutrition and stunting among children.

Recent data by Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) shows 20 per cent of children in the country are affected by malnutrition with the 2014 survey indicating that the rate of stunting or impaired growth children experience from poor nutrition stood at 19.9 per cent in the county.

The figure is higher than the national figure that stands at 18 per cent according to the report, raising concern among health and nutrition experts that if not reversed, the county stares at a generation of children who will not live to achieve full potential in education and career life.

“The reason why we are launching this policy document in Embu is that it is one of the counties that is food secure but has malnutrition,” said Nutrition International Country Director Martha Nyagaya.

Speaking during the launch of the policy in Embu Town, the director noted that one out of five children in Embu County is malnourished with the main drivers being choices that families make in their diets and lack of knowledge on food combinations.

“You will find a mother selling eggs or milk to buy bread and soda,” she stated, noting that their main approach of reversing the trend will be on food distribution and training of community health workers to create a robust community health support system.

Ministry of Health Nutrition and Dietetics Services Director Veronica Kirogo appealed to counties to contextualise such policies in line with the national policies to address the growing challenge of malnutrition. Ms Kirogo reported that the government loses Ksh374 billion annually as a result of child malnutrition and undernutrition.

This is according to a 2019 Survey by the National Treasury, she said. The director called on county governments to become active implementers of nutrition transformation by domesticating national health policies.

Embu County Deputy Governor Kinyua Mugo observed that, through the policy, they will be able to bring together players in various sectors including health, agriculture, education, water and social protection to effectively combat the vice.

Mr reported that the devolved unit had implemented a robust school feeding initiative known as Embu Uji Programme that provides nutritious, fortified porridge for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Samuel Waititu