Healthcare Workers Trained on Management of Acute Malnutrition

 With Kitui being one of the 10 counties classified by the NDMA as being on alert stage of the drought situation in the Arid and Semi-Arid (asal) region this month, the county government has partnered with development organizations to address likely outbreak of malnutrition in case the much-anticipated short rains fail. 

This involved training health workers today on managing acute malnutrition. They are on a two-day workshop.          

The Kitui CEC in charge of Health and Sanitation Dr Winnie Kitetu today opened the training workshop on management of acute malnutrition Kitui town.

Speaking while addressing over 180 healthcare workers drawn from various facilities across the county, Kitetu asserted the objective of the training was to equip and enhance healthcare workers with skills and knowledge on management of acute malnutrition. 

Technical skills

“The objective of this two-day training is equip you (healthcare worker) with technical skills and knowledge on how to handle and manage acute malnutrition among children under five years, pregnant and lactating mothers in our county,” said Kitetu.

Kitetu further guaranteed the healthcare workers of immense support from the county leadership. 

“The Governor, Dr Julius Malombe is keen on this programme. He is committed to see fully implementation of the supplementary feeding programme where over 5000 children under five years,1300 pregnant and lactating mothers across the county benefit from this initiative within the stipulated timeframe of nine months,” said the ministry’s boss.

The World Food Programme (WFP) Associate Fidelia Mwende, on the other hand guaranteed the leadership of the ministry that commodities are in the process of disbursement from the warehouse to the various healthcare facilities across the county. 

The training which brought over 180 healthcare workers is sponsored by USAID-Kenya and implemented by WFP-Kenya in partnership with Kenya Red Cross. 

The CEC was accompanied by Health Director Administrative Services Francis Musyoka, Deputy Director Public Health Faith Mutinda and County Nutrition Coordinator Jackson Matheka among other health officials.                   

STORY By MARTIN MWENGA