REPUBLIC OF KENYA
Email

Kenya launches Cost of Hunger study to address food security. Nairobi, KENYA February 14, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Government has officially launched a Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study in Kenya as part of continental initiative to estimate economic and social impact of child undernutrition.
The collaboration venture by the ministries of National Treasury, Agriculture, Education, Health and  development partners comes in the backdrop of African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Continental Nutrition Accountability Scorecard launch during the 32nd ordinary session of the assembly of the head of states and governments, in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Speaking during the event In Nairobi, Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Dr. Rashid Aman said child Undernutrition prevalence remains high in African countries and continues to be a persistent threat to Africa’s development.
He acknowledged that Kenya has made significant steps in the past to reduce child undernutrition and has been recognized as one of the countries that is on track towards achieving the World Health Assembly target in maternal and child nutrition.
However, he noted that  the levels of malnutrition still remain high for under five years of age with burden of stunting at 26%, wasting 4% and underweight 11%.
“A lot more still needs to be done to further address the emerging nutrition and health challenges in view of triple burden of malnutrition characterized by declining undernutrition, with increasing overweight, obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),” he said.

 ”Eliminating malnutrition is a necessary step and requires concerted efforts with a multi-sectoral approaches,” he added .

Dr. Rashid  reaffirmed the Government commitment to attaining health and nutrition agenda to ensure all children access quality nutrition and health services which will strengthen preventive and promotive approach in addressing malnutrition.

“The Kenya Nutrition Action Plan (KNAP) 2018 – 2022 is under development to accelerate scale-up efforts towards the elimination of malnutrition as a problem of public health significance,” he confirmed.

 

The COHA study is an African Union Commission initiative to generate evidence around the enormity of the malnutrition problem in Africa.

The study will provide justification for increased and focussed investments for Food and Nutrition security in line with the global, regional and national priorities and commitments geared towards catalysing the social economic transformation and human development in Kenya.

 

 

 

On February 14, 2019   /   News