This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
On October 9, 2019, Turkana residents from Katilu and Turkwel ward received a significant boost in their fight against malnutrition with a Sh500 million grant from the Bayer Fund.
The five-year project, dubbed IMPACT (Improve Approach to Community-based Nutrition in Turkana), aims to increase the capacity of health facilities, boost agriculture, and educate community leaders and mothers on nutrition.
According to a baseline survey, over three-quarters of households in the two wards had no food from own production, with nearly all women knowing the importance of introducing complementary foods at six months.
However, the survey also revealed that half of the respondents reported difficulty in feeding their children several times a day, and over half of farmers, food traders, and respondent women lacked formal schooling.
Laurent Perrier, Bayer East Africa MD, said, “Long term studies indicate that nutritional interventions aimed at children in the first few years of life lead to measurable improvements in adolescence and adulthood.”
Josephat Nanok, Governor of Turkana County, added, “We are pleased that the program is well-aligned with our key development priorities and agenda, including the county integrated development plan and county nutrition action plan.”
The project is being managed by Africare with support from the government, and is expected to benefit over 25,000 children under the age of five and their mothers.
