By Bernard Ondari .
“Bring your baby across the front of your body. Hold your baby with the arm that’s not on the same side as the breast you’re feeding from. Support the back of the baby’s butt with your hand and let its head rest on your upper arm, always ensuring your arm takes the C-shape.”
Mr. Joshua Ochare, 60, animatedly demonstrates the best position to hold a baby for breastfeeding, to a room filled with gleeful men. Despite having no medical background, Mr. Ochare has, in the past four months, gained a profound understanding of caring for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and their babies. He’s a proud beneficiary of a peer-to-peer learning program called the “father-to-father support group,” which champions male involvement during and after pregnancy.
This initiative is part of a broader intervention, the Baby Friendly Community Initiative (BFCI), aimed at curbing malnutrition among flood-affected families in Anyoro and Ogenya in Kanywgwal, Nyando. Mr. Ochare is among a group of fathers who have consistently held bi-weekly meetings for the past four months to improve the nutritional status of their households, especially for their pregnant and lactating mothers.
Battling Malnutrition in Flood-Prone Areas
Rael Mwando, the County Nutrition Coordinator, explains that the program’s primary goal is to combat malnutrition, specifically wasting, in these flood-prone areas. Nyando sub-county, particularly Kabonyo Kanyagwal ward, is one of the regions in Kisumu County severely impacted by flooding due to heavy rains and the backflow of Lake Victoria.
“Families have experienced heavy losses, including but not limited to crops, houses, and businesses,” states Ms. Mwando. “The most vulnerable populations—children below 5 years, pregnant and lactating women—have been worst hit by the disaster.”
The Pivotal Role of Community Health Workers
Twenty Community Health Providers (CHPs) and another twenty Community Health Promoters (CHPs), coached as trainers of trainers, have been the backbone of the BFCI program. They lead from the front through bi-weekly meetings and follow-up household visits.
Jeniffer Rapoko, a Community Health Assistant supporting the Anyoro community, notes that previous programs often focused solely on mothers, with “mother-to-mother” support groups being common. However, the realization that male involvement was crucial necessitated a change in approach.
“We realized that babies below six months missed out on exclusive breastfeeding and were started on solids due to great influence and pressure from the lactating mothers’ spouses, who felt the babies were not feeding well,” says Ms. Rapoko, who supervises the CHPs. She further elaborates, “The ‘milk owner’ in essence, were the men who majorly provide in the households.”
Ms. Rapoko emphasizes the significant impact of male support: “When a father offers moral and physical support to the lactating mother, stress levels are immensely reduced, and a mother is able to produce more breast milk.” She adds that household visits, bolstered by male involvement, have significantly boosted exclusive breastfeeding rates and encouraged adherence to recommended food groups for mothers.
Tangible Progress and Collaborative Efforts
BFCI has seen immense progress in its implementation:
- CHPs have mapped households with children aged 0-23 months.
- Two “father-to-father” support groups, with 15 members each, have been formed.
- Four “mother-to-mother” support groups have also been established.
- Kitchen gardens have been established to support household nutrient needs, with CHPs conducting follow-up visits.
The county, with financial support from the French Embassy through UNICEF and the Kenya Red Cross Society, received funding for the “Strengthening Nutrition Resilience and Recovery for Flood-Affected Communities in Western and ASAL Counties in Kenya.” This structured approach aims to address the immediate and long-term nutritional needs of flood-affected populations. The program’s goal is to minimize the impact of floods on nutrition and ensure communities can recover and build resilience to future disasters.
BFCI is among the key interventions launched in February this year to strengthen this recovery approach, encompassing four major themes: prevention of wasting, management of wasting, improvement of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), community engagement, and integration of mental health, psychosocial support, and gender-based violence in the nutrition program.
Long-Term Vision and Sustained Impact
Laura Kiige, a maternal, infant, and young child nutrition specialist at UNICEF, stresses the importance of interventions like BFCI and male involvement in fostering information exchange that nurtures children’s lives. “Research has shown that the first 1,000 days of a baby until two years is very important, with further science showing that the next 1,000 days until five years is also critical, especially with their nutrition needs,” she stated during a field visit in Kanyagwal.
Linnet Achieng’, Nutrition Specialist at the Kenya Red Cross Society, highlighted the program’s focus on tangible outcomes, with enhanced community-level monitoring and accountability. The initiative integrates into the education system by training Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers and Community Health Promoters (CHPs). “ECDE teachers and CHPs are trained to conduct growth monitoring and house-to-house visits, ensuring community-led surveillance,” explained Ms. Achieng.
Dr. Don Sunday, County Director of Medical Services, underscored the program’s importance for vulnerable demographics. “Maternal and child health is paramount; stunting health statistics in Kenya roll back to chronic malnutrition. Excellent clinical outcomes depend on the nutrition status of the children,” he pointed out.
CEC Health, Dr. Gregory Ganda, emphasized the importance of community-led initiatives supported by the government. He stated that immediate interventions are crucial even as partnerships explore sustainable models.
This multi-sectoral program unites various county departments, including health, education, water, agriculture, and social services, marking a significant stride towards recovery and resilience for the Nyando region.
What other ways do you think communities can empower fathers to be more involved in family health?
