By Lenah Bosibori
Nairobi, Kenya: In the heart of Gatwekera village in Kibera, Evalyen Okol, a 37-year-old mother of one is a mother with worries about the health of her daughter. Three months ago, Okol discovered her child’s struggle with low weight when she took her to a local clinic.
Determined to know the cause of her child’s underweight, Okol was told that her child is malnourished. Immediately she was put in a specialized nutrition program that encompasses a variety of nutrients to improve her child’s nutrition.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, by one year, the average weight of a baby girl is approximately 19 pounds 10 ounces (8.9kg), with boys weighing about 21 pounds 3 ounces (9.6kg).
“At one year old, my daughter was weighing only 7.3 kilograms, in addition, despite turning one year old, she hasn’t started walking yet, and her weight hasn’t shown significant improvement,” said Okol.
As a single mother and a saloonist, Okol sometimes struggles to put food on the table for both herself and her child. She has come to realize that her own nutritional challenges are contributing to her child’s low weight.
“There are times when I return home empty-handed, unable to provide sufficient breast milk for my little one, adds Okol.
It was around eleven hours at the time I was doing this interview and Okol’s child had only consumed a non-nutritious snack, (Ringoz) as many children call it in the community.
Desperate for any kind of job opportunity, Okol urges anyone willing to help her secure employment, enabling her to provide for her child’s needs highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support.
Frankline Kaburia, a nutritionist from CFK Africa, explains that they are conducting screenings to identify malnourished children in the area.
“So far, we have come across a few cases that need urgent intervention, we will later do a contact tracing and refer them to various hospitals and facilities in Gatwekera for further assistance,” said Kaburia.
Kaburia said that their goal is to reach approximately 300 children within Gatwekera village on the outskirts of Kibera.
Wycliffe Ogenya, from the Nairobi City County Community Health Services, is leading the screening efforts for children under five in Kibera and Langata sub Counties.
“This assessment aims to identify growth challenges and provide referrals to nearby health facilities where these children can participate in programs designed to help them catch up with their peers, said Ogenya.
According to Ogenya, beyond nutrition interventions, the initiative also emphasizes the importance of proper hygiene practices. “Soap distribution is part of the effort to promote hand washing and reduce the risk of diseases caused by poor hand hygiene,” said Ogenya
“Additionally, we encourage households to create small gardens using sacks to cultivate their own food. I emphasize the use of beans as a nutritious alternative to meat, something that one can afford,” added Ogenya. “The project aims to change the community’s perception that meat is the sole source of proper nutrition,” he reiterated.
For severely malnourished children, CFK Africa provides specialized programs, sometimes with support from organizations like UNICEF and the Red Cross. By identifying vulnerable households and ensuring they receive food assistance.
The initiative addresses the underlying issue of limited financial resources within the community. Financial mismanagement often results in families prioritizing unhealthy food choices, such as buying chips instead of nutritious alternatives.
The overall goal is to empower households to make wise food choices with limited resources.
Rather than spending money on small portions of meat, they are encouraged to purchase affordable, wholesome food that can sustain their families. Despite the challenges, the government is working tirelessly to improve the situation in Kibera by empowering the community through urban farming initiatives.
Geoffrey Okoro, a manager at CFK Africa, highlights the organization’s commitment to public health, youth development, and education. In this particular outreach, the focus is on growth development, especially among children under five in Gatwekera. Alarmed by the abnormally high rates of malnutrition in Kibera, which deviate from national trends, CFK Africa is calling on stakeholders to join forces and address this pressing issue.
Through routine growth monitoring checks and increased awareness, the community outreach team aims to combat malnutrition. Parents of children under five are encouraged to prioritize regular check-ups to prevent both malnutrition and obesity. Considering the current economic hardships faced nationwide, it is essential to raise awareness and concentrate efforts where needed.
