This archive report was first published on 30 October 2021.
Siaya County has made significant strides in reducing stunted growth among children, thanks to the introduction of nurturing care and nutrition programming.
According to statistics, stunted growth in the county has gone down since the introduction of the project, with the integration of nurturing care and nutrition programming seeing an increase in exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation to breastfeeding in more than 90 per cent of the county.
Previously, these indicators were below 50 and 60 per cent, according to the Education department.
Community health volunteers like Rose Walinga play a crucial role in training new mothers on nurturing care for early childhood development.
Ms Walinga said that among her roles as a community health volunteer is training pregnant women and new mothers on nurturing care for early childhood development.
“We teach them how to communicate with their babies when they are still in the womb and also how to talk and play with them after birth for the first three years. This is important for brain development,” she said.
Statistics show that stunted growth in Siaya County has gone down since the introduction of nurturing care and nutrition programming.
Siaya First Lady Roselle Rasanga launched a campaign on nurturing care for early childhood development in 2018.
According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Amref, Matibabu Foundation of Health and Nawiri Programme, stunted growth has decreased from 25 per cent in 2018 to less than 21 per cent.
