Murang’a: Murang’a county government has established a multi-sectorial food and nutrition security policy with the aim of tackling malnutrition-related diseases among the local communities. The policy focuses on achieving food security in the county where every resident has access to good quality diversified food.
According to Kenya News Agency, the multi-sectoral food and nutrition policy was formulated by the county administration in partnership with the Nutrition International (NI) organization. It targets to bring together all nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive sectors to create a coherent approach to achieve food and nutrition security. The policy process involved relevant sectors, including health, agriculture, water, irrigation, environment, trade, education, gender, and social services.
The County Nutrition Coordinator, Ms. Nancy Mwangi, highlighted that Murang’a faces a triple burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiency. According to indicators of the Kenya Demographic Household Survey of 2022, stunting prevalence among children stands at 10 percent. Ms. Mwangi noted that malnutrition, largely contributed by poverty and unemployment, is a significant contributor to maternal and child mortality.
Ms. Veronica Kirogo, Head of Division, Nutrition, and Dietary in the Ministry of Health, stated that the country spends about Sh374 million annually to treat malnutrition-related diseases. She emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach in implementing the policy to achieve food security and diverse diets.
NI Country Director, Ms. Martha Nyangaya, praised Murang’a county government for its commitment to nutrition. She mentioned that the stunting rate had dropped from 19 percent in 2014 to 10 percent in 2022 due to implemented programs. The policy aims to further reduce nutritional deficiencies and ensure a healthy population.
Murang’a’s Deputy Governor, Stephen Munania, noted that a significant number of patients visiting local hospitals suffer from non-communicable diseases caused by poor diet. He stressed the importance of the policy in reducing malnutrition and food insecurity rates. The county government supports nutrition in schools and has programs to boost food security, such as the Inua Mkulima Programme.