Murang’a County government in partnership with Nutrition International (NI) organization have embarked to implement a 3-year Action Plan that will see improved nutrition status among the local population.
The devolved administration has already set aside Sh. 21 million in this financial year to facilitate implementing programes aimed to attain nutrition security and well-being of residents across different ages and diversities in the county.
Speaking when launching the plan, the County Executive Member (CEC) for health and sanitation, Mr. Joseph Mbai said the county government is committed to provide required leadership to coordinate and implement the Action Plan while ensuring that each resident has the right to health and nutrition.
Mbai observed that due to poor feeding the county in the recent past has recorded high cases of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) especially diabetes and hypertension.
He underscored the need to educate the locals on proper feeding so as to curtail the increase of the NCDs among its residents.
He added that Nutrition International will also factor an equal or more funds to facilitate implementation of the Action Plan.
The CEC further said in this time when the country is faced by the Covid-19 pandemic, nutrition needs to be given priority to help manage the spread of the virus..
Nutrition International Country Director Mr. Edgar Okoth speaking during the same occasion held at the county offices said his organization has so far used about Sh. 50 million in implementing programes aimed to boost nutrition in the county.
He averred that they will also increase more funding which will see the effective implementation of the 3-year action plan.
Okoth observed that 1 in every 5 of children in Murang’a are under nourished or stunted.
The Action Plan, Okoth said, is a clear and powerful signal of the county’s leadership to make nutrition a priority, noting that malnutrition has a cost, direct and indirect to individuals, families and nations.