Kenya has called on the support of the global community amid concerns about the looming threat of the El Nino.
Health CS Susan Nakhumicha has called for international support to effectively address the complex challenges affecting the globe, including the looming El Nino rains.
Speaking during the ongoing United National General Assembly in New York, Nakhumicha acknowledged that the Horn of Africa has experienced five consecutive missed rainy seasons, leading to over 50,000 fatalities, with young children under five bearing the brunt of this crisis.
Nakhumicha has underscored the pressing need to combat child malnutrition in the Horn of Africa during her remarks at the UNGA Side event on Child Survival in the Hunger and Malnutrition Crisis.
She urged for technical and financial support, collaboration and innovative solutions to tackle child malnutrition effectively.
“Kenya remains resolute in its commitment to protecting vulnerable children, both at home and abroad,” she stated.
This high-level gathering, hosted at the Lexington Hotel, united world leaders to confront the critical issues affecting children in the region.
Nakhumicha emphasized the imperative of adopting a multi-sectoral approach to nutrition security and the crucial role of political commitment in eradicating malnutrition.
“Kenya has taken proactive measures, including fertilizer subsidies and the implementation of the Afya Bora Mashinani model for Universal Health Coverage,” she said.
In Kenya, the number of malnourished children under five has surged, now affecting nearly one million youngsters, along with 142,000 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
This alarming increase, she said, is a stark contrast to the previous year's figures.
A recent report by Action Against Hunger showed that hunger and malnutrition have risen steadily since 2015, affecting around 800 million people in 2021.
As a result, the estimated cost of meeting humanitarian needs globally has risen by 25 per cent in the last year alone.
This has been attributed to conflict and violence while extreme weather events, economic shocks, and soaring food prices contribute to severe food and malnutrition crises.
