By Matilda Ochich
A transformative nine-day intensive workshop culminated in Kisumu as health and nutrition officers from Busia, Nairobi, and host county Kisumu pledged to turn shared learning into direct, lasting action within their local communities. Supported by UNICEF with funding from Jesus Christ of the latter saints day church, this regional gathering represented part of a broader six-county initiative that also includes Homa Bay, Migori, and Siaya, all working to overturn persistent nutritional deficits. As the intensive training sessions drew to a close, delegates solemnly committed to escalate grassroots interventions and spark positive, sustainable change across their respective healthcare networks.
Gracing the meeting, Kisumu CECM for Health and Sanitation Dr. Gregory Ganda expressed deep appreciation for the strategic development partnership while framing the stark health realities facing the region. He observed that while local agricultural efforts produce abundant cash crops, severe nutritional deficiencies persist. Dr. Ganda noted that the region continues to battle alarming public health hurdles, including high perinatal mortality rates and anemia affecting up to 40% of pregnant women. Citing findings from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance study, Dr. Ganda highlighted that undernutrition remains a primary underlying cause of death among children under five years of age, underscoring the vital need for targeted, sustainable responses in high-burden areas.
To directly overcome these systemic challenges, Dr. Ganda urged all stakeholders to fully embrace the Positive Deviance Hearth approach as a practical, locally driven strategy. This community-based model shifts focus toward identifying and expanding successful nutritional practices already demonstrated by families using affordable, locally available resources. By empowering communities to discover and practice these positive behaviors together, the intervention fosters genuine local ownership and long-term resilience.
Echoing these priorities, representatives from UNICEF reaffirmed their commitment to supporting high-impact, community-anchored nutrition strategies across the counties. They emphasized that investing in child nutrition through sustainable models like Positive Deviance Hearth creates a foundation for lifelong growth, cognitive development, and community resilience. UNICEF commended the participating counties for their cross-border collaboration, noting that scaling up local solutions and empowering frontline health workers remains essential to ensuring no child is left behind.
The Ministry of Health commended the participants for their technical rigor and commitment throughout the nine days and highlighted that integrating Positive Deviance Hearth into primary healthcare services directly advances national health targets aimed at reducing stunting and ending preventable child mortality. The representative urged county health directorates to maintain active inter-county coordination, track measurable health outcomes at the household level, and ensure that workshop insights immediately translate into frontline community outreach.
The memorable training climaxed in a colourful ceremony filled with joy and camaraderie, featuring a ceremonial cake-cutting session to celebrate the successful completion of the intensive nine-day workshop.
The technical teams from Busia, Nairobi, and Kisumu presented their comprehensive county work plans, outlining tailored roadmaps to operationalize the project within their respective jurisdictions. These actionable plans established clear timelines, targeted high-priority sub-counties, and defined localized strategies to ensure smooth, immediate implementation. Following these presentations, the memorable training climaxed in a colourful ceremony filled with joy and camaraderie, featuring a ceremonial cake-cutting session to celebrate the successful completion of the intensive nine-day workshop.
Closing the event with a compelling call to action, the participants were reminded that regional transformation begins with individual leadership, and that when each professional takes personal responsibility to implement these practices, their dedication naturally influences others to follow suit. Reenergized by nine days of collaborative planning, shared celebration, and cross-county solidarity, the delegates depart ready to pioneer community-led health solutions that ensure every family possesses the tools required for optimal child growth and well-being.
