Seven counties in the Lake Victoria region will benefit from stakeholder engagement to ensure children have a healthy start to life during their first 1,000 days.
On Tuesday, the Lakes Regional Economic Zone launched the Smart Life Initiative in Migori County, which will also be extended to Busia, Homabay, Vihiga, Kisumu, Nyamira and Kakamega counties.
This project has already started in Siaya province.
“We started this initiative in our region because the data shows that we are lagging behind nationally in newborn health and we need to catch up,” said Lreb Director Martin. Sicoria said.
He said the early stages of a child's life are important, and the first 1,000 days are critical to ensuring a healthy life and eliminating poverty, which influences education through securing socio-economic status as an adult. said it was important.
He was speaking in Migori town along with my Migori Deputy Governor Mahiri Gimuntah and the governor's wives Agnes Ayako (Migori), Betty Orengo (Siaya) and Dorothy Nyong'o (Kisumu).
“We started in Siaya and passed the ball to Migori. This project brings together key stakeholders and departments across the county to ensure children born have a better start in life. '' said Betty.
The organization says the initiative is a work of leadership, funding and community support, as 43 per cent of children under five in the region are at risk of poverty, poor health, undernutrition and other adversities. He said he would prioritize children's development through awareness.
The World Health Organization says that in Kenya, 59 percent of children under the age of five are at risk of stunting, based on indicators of stunting, extreme poverty, or a combination of both.
Agnes said that in Migori, the departments responsible for health, agriculture, education and environment will work with stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.
“As we work hard to reverse malnutrition trends and increase access to health services in Migori, we have critical talent in the county for this project,” she said.
In Migori, the project aims to reverse the high infant mortality rate of 76 per 1,000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate is 123 per 1,000.
Only 52.4% of children born in Migori have their births registered, 48.8% of children between the ages of 5 and 17 are engaged in child labor, 23% of pregnant women are adolescents, and 48.8% of children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labor. Only 58.5% of pregnant women give birth to more than one child. Prenatal clinic visit.
“Research shows that if we reverse this number, we can help children avoid doing poorly in school and having low incomes in their lives,” said CEO of implementing partner Kmet. , said Monica Ogutu.
He said these schemes would help delay teenage pregnancies, ensure timely antenatal clinic visits and births in hospitals rather than at home with traditional midwives.
