Ministry of Health Reviews Community Nutrition Module to Address Malnutrition Issues
𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐬, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 – The Ministry of Health has initiated a review of Kenya’s Community Nutrition Module 8 in response to the country’s shifting nutrition landscape.
This module, which is a key training guide for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), will be updated to address the growing triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising levels of overweight and obesity.
During a workshop in Machakos, Dr Joseph Lenai, Acting Director Primary Health at the Ministry of Health revealed that despite progress in reducing stunting from 26% in 2014 to 18% in 2022, malnutrition remains a pressing issue.
“Wasting rates have increased, and more women of reproductive age are becoming overweight or obese, adding to the country’s health challenges.”
Dr Lenai described this trends as having significant economic implications, with child undernutrition alone costing the country KSh 373.9 billion in 2014, equivalent to 6.9% of the national GDP.
The updated module, which was originally developed in 2013, aims to enhance the capacity of CHPs by aligning training materials with the latest health policies, including the Primary Health Care Act, 2023, and the Kenya Nutrition Action Plan (KNAP). New components, such as the Baby-Friendly Community Initiative (cBFCI), will also be integrated.
The government has deployed over 107,000 CHPs across the country as part of its broader efforts to strengthen primary healthcare. These CHPs are equipped with smart technology to improve service delivery in nutrition and preventive healthcare. The revision of Module 8 is expected to boost their efficiency in addressing malnutrition at the community level.
The workshop, attended by stakeholders from both national and county levels, emphasized the importance of investing in nutrition. Every dollar invested in nutrition was reported to yield a return of 22 dollars, highlighting the economic and societal benefits of scaling up nutrition interventions.
With support from various development partners, the revised guidelines are set to be a cornerstone in the fight against malnutrition, furthering Kenya's push towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).