Kisumu County has emerged as a leader for best practices in the implementation of Nutrition strategy.
The County’s Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Gregory Ganda and the County Nutrition Coordinator, Rael Mwando, this week presented the milestones made by the County on Nutrition, during the 4th National Nutrition Symposium held at Safari Park Hotel from April 12 to 13, 2023.
Speaking at the Symposium, Dr. Ganda said it has taken ownership, good political will, and technical expertise from County Departments (Health, Agriculture, Education, Social Protection, and Water) National government, and partners notably USAID – Advancing Nutrition, to model Multi-Sectoral Nutrition (MSN) in Kisumu County.
“It takes a community to address malnutrition and Kisumu has laid the foundation. The County is open to progressive partnerships to scale the MSN model and high impact Nutrition and specific Interventions,” he said
Kisumu’s First Lady-Mama Kisumu, Dorothy Nyong’o who has been championing nutrition campaigns in the county also attended the symposium.
She said Kisumu has an elaborate multi-sectoral nutrition governance structure with health, agriculture, water, and social services departments at the apex with 45 nutrition champions led by Mama county.
Kisumu is among the counties that have significantly improved in nutrition indicators, having reduced stunting by 50% in 6 years and overweight by 65 percent during the same period.
“ Kisumu is implementing the County Nutrition Plan and will soon be launching its Investment case which will outline the loss in the different sectors due to undernutrition and how much the county needs to invest through MSN to avert the loss.” Dr Ganda told the conference.
He added: “Tackling malnutrition requires a multi-sectoral approach to achieve good outcomes. We hope other countries will be able to embrace MSN to eradicate malnutrition in all its forms.”