The ABDP Kisumu, in collaboration with the County Health Department, nutrition unit has embarked on sensitization sessions for the adolescent or teenage mothers on recipes for complementary feeding of children aged 6-23 months in Kisumu through the support of IFAD and National Government.
According to WHO, complementary feeding is the process of giving other foods in addition to breast milk after six completed months. During that period, breastmilk alone, is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants of that age, hence other foods are needed.
The initiative was informed by a research done in 2021 in both Kisumu and Migori Counties by the Maternal Child Survival Programme that informed the development of a recipe book to guide the mothers on how to prepare complementary foods that are nutritious and diverse using locally available foods.
The Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) is a global flagship project that introduces and supports high-impact health interventions with with the ultimate goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths within a generation.
The sensitization sessions have begun and are scheduled to take placet in Kisumu West, Muhoroni, Nyamdo, and Nyakach Sub Counties in Kisumu.
Speaking while addressing the adolescent mothers in Muhoroni, the County Project Coordinator, Mr. Kevin Wamira encouraged the mothers to embrace fish farming and kitchen gardening that can supplement the feeding of children for proper growth and brain development due to protein and omega three content in the fish.
He advised them to use the recipe books given to the as a guide to feeding their children on nutritious foods that are locally available.
On her part, the County Nutritionist, Madam Rael Mwando, said based on the findings of the research report, a team from Health and agriculture departments resolved to develop the recipe book to guide the mothers not to rely on one particular food group but instead mix at least four food groups out of the seven groups for dietary diversity and for children to be fed on healthy foods.
She reiterated that during the research, the women admitted that the food groups were available within their reach but they lacked the knowledge of mixing the food groups for healthy meal for their children. Some parents also avoided certain important foods such as eggs and “omena” due to cultural and religious belief.
The eggs were believed to promote delayed speech in children while some religious groups did not accept “omena”
Madam Rael is optimistic that the training will have positive impact and further demystify the cultural and religious beliefs while promoting healthy feeding of children among the adolescent mothers resulting into reduction of malnutrition and stunted growth among the children.
The sensitization session was culminated with demonstrations where a nutritious meal comprising four food groups meal was prepared by the mothers and fed to the children who were tagged along with the mothers during the training.
Other facilitators included the sub county nutrition coordinator Mr. Dalmas Onyango, sub county fidheries officer, Mr. Gilbert Mutai, Ward extension officers Madam Perez Omondi, Mr. Felly Juma.and Mr. Wilson Onjolo.
