Nyandarua County Develops Nutrition Action Plan to Combat Malnutrition
Nyandarua County government is finalizing a five-year County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) for 2023–2028, aimed at addressing malnutrition among residents. The plan is currently in the validation stage, according to Josephine Muiru, Chief Officer for Public Health and Solid Waste Management.
The initiative is supported by CARE International, Kenya Chapter, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) under the CASCADE project, which seeks to strengthen policy implementation for improved nutrition in Nyandarua, Nairobi, and Nakuru counties.
The CNAP seeks to enhance food security and reduce malnutrition among women of reproductive age and children under five, said Muiru.
Despite being a major food-producing region, Nyandarua has a high prevalence of stunted growth in children. The county’s stunting rate stands at 30 percent, exceeding the national average of 26 percent, while rural children are particularly affected.
Paul Migwi, the County Nutrition Coordinator, emphasized that although the county produces significant quantities of potatoes, milk, and vegetables, children are not receiving adequate nutritional value from available foods.
Past efforts to curb malnutrition included distribution of free milk to nursery school children, free fruit seedlings to households, and promotion of fish consumption through fish farming campaigns between 2013 and 2017. However, these measures had limited impact.
The CNAP aims to build on previous efforts and implement sustainable strategies to improve the nutrition and growth outcomes of children and vulnerable populations across the county.