US NGO partners with Baringo County to manage malnutrition

A group of mothers receiving training from health care workers on earlier detection of malnutrition at Embositit village in Tiaty West Baringo. [Marion Kithi, Standard)

In most African traditions, children wear bracelets to guard against evil spirits. Generally, bracelets are ornaments, a show of beauty.

But in a small village in Embositit in Tiaty West Sub County in Baringo, tri-coloured mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) bracelets are won by kids as a detector of malnutrition.

Elizabeth Kavere, the nurse-in-charge at Kapunyany dispensary in Tiaty West, says bracelets are part of the integrated health outreach programmes supported by Helen Keller International to combat malnourishment.

“The programme was set up in August 2023. If a child has a green bracelet, they are well nourished. A yellow or red bracelet means a state of moderate or acute malnutrition and the kids need to get malnutrition treatment,” Kavere told the mothers.

It was a hot Monday afternoon when some 50 young and old mothers sat under a tree to learn from Kavere how the beaming bracelet would help them end malnutrition among their children.

“My role is to treat malnutrition and train mothers to screen children for malnutrition using the MUAC bracelet, a simple, easy-to-use tool that can help prevent deterioration of their health,” she told the Standard.

Kavere is assisted by several Community Health Promoters (CHPs).

Malnutrition is the deficiency, excess, or imbalance in energy and nutrients. Nutritionists classify it as under-nutrition meaning low weight-for-height, stunting (low height-for-age), and underweight, low weight-for-age.

Baringo County’s Nutrition Action Plan 2019-2023 says Baringo North has an acute malnutrition rate of 9.3 per cent while Baringo South has medium and a severe malnutrition rate of 2.3 per cent in children aged 6-59 months.

Health experts attribute this to poor nutrition in pregnant and breastfeeding women. This has led to premature births, low birth weight, stunting, and wasting in newborns.

They say children born to malnourished mothers are also more likely to develop chronic health problems and have a higher risk of mortality. That is why health workers like Kavere’s have their work is cut out. 

“Acute malnutrition can cause stunting, a permanent disability caused by insufficient nutrition during a child’s early years, resulting in poor growth and slow development,” said Kavere.

Nancy Maidong’, a 38-year-old mother, narrated how she nearly lost her three-year-old son, Aaron, to acute malnutrition early this year. The boy lost his appetite, suffered from diarrhea, and was losing weight fast.

One CHP, Fridah Makal, visited Maidong’s home and recommended that Aaron visits AIC Lodengo Health Centre, which provides free malnutrition treatment.

At the clinic, Aaron was diagnosed with moderate malnutrition. The nurse in charge set up a treatment programme and the little boy recovered within four months.

“My baby had lost almost all his weight. Initially, I suspected a mysterious illness until I learned it was malnutrition,” said Maidong’.

Lydia Tanui, a nurse at the health centre, said she put baby Aaron on a strict diet to boost his immunity and weight.

“I advised her to rely on nutrient-rich foods to improve her son’s nutrition and health status. Parents should make sure that children eat a diversified diet in “four-star” group programmes: starches (first star), animal proteins (second star), pulses (third star), and fruits and vegetables (fourth star).” 

Baringo County nutrition coordinator Ann Kimwa says over 22,000 children in the county suffer from acute malnutrition.

“About 17,000 children suffer moderate malnutrition, while over 5,000 children suffer from severe malnutrition in Baringo,” said Ms Kimwa.

Kimwa, however, says stunting in the county has dropped from 51 per cent to 31.4 per cent while underweight is still above 30 per cent.

‘’The major indicators of malnutrition in Baringo are stunting, underweight, and wasting. Another challenge is under-staffing where some facilities do not have healthcare workers,” Kimwa said.

The bad situation is aggravated by insecurity due to inter-community conflicts in Baringo South sub-county and poor food harvest due to unreliable rainfall.

To help combat the situation, Helen Keller International is working with the county to support integrated medical outreach in ten mapped sites.