Africa: Kenya revamps nutrition module as Bill Gates underlines urgency to fight malnutrition in Africa

Nairobi – Kenya has launched a review of its 8th Community Nutrition Module in response to the changing nutrition landscape in the country.

This module, a key training resource for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), is being updated to address the growing triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising rates of overweight and obesity.

During a workshop in Machakos, Dr Joseph Lenai, Acting Director of Primary Health Services at the Ministry of Health, pointed out that while progress had been made in reducing stunting from 26 percent in 2014 to 18 percent in 2022, malnutrition remained a significant challenge.

“Wasting rates have increased and more women of childbearing age are becoming overweight or obese, exacerbating the country’s health problems,” said Dr Lenai.

He also highlighted the economic impact of these trends, pointing out that child malnutrition alone cost Kenya 373.9 billion Kenyan shillings in 2014, equivalent to 6.9 percent of national GDP.

The updated module, originally developed in 2013, aims to improve the capabilities of CHPs by adapting training materials to current health policies, including the Primary Health Care Act of 2023 and the Kenya Nutrition Action Plan (KNAP). It will also include new elements such as the Baby-Friendly Community Initiative (cBFCI).

To support these efforts, the government has established over 107,000 CHPs nationwide, equipped with smart technology to improve nutrition and preventive health care delivery. The revision of Module 8 is designed to improve their effectiveness in combating malnutrition at the community level.