Skilled Professionals will Refer Malnourished Children for Treatment and Improve Community Health
NAIROBI, KENYA – CFK Africa, a registered NGO in Kenya, will host a growth and monitoring activity for children under the age of 5 in Kibra on Friday, 23, June 2023. Between 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, CFK Africa staff and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) will work to identify children with malnutrition and refer them to health facilities for treatment.
Access to good nutrition plays a fundamental role in stimulating growth and development. Kenya’s 2010 constitution gives emphasis through Article 53 (c) which stipulates that every child has a right to basic nutrition.
As part of its public health initiatives, CFK Africa’s nutrition program works to prevent, identify, and treat malnutrition among children under 5 in Kenyan informal settlements, ensuring they reach physical and cognitive development milestones. The organization integrates malnutrition screening and treatment throughout health facilities, partners with the government, and works closely with CHPs.
There is a need for more community sensitization when it comes to matters of nutrition for children under 5 in Kenya, and CFK Africa has a wide-reaching impact. In 2022, the NGO screened 30,344 children for malnutrition at health facilities, schools, and community centres, and 642 children who were identified in Nairobi and Machakos county respectively with malnutrition received treatment at CFK Africa’s health facilities. CFK Africa also worked to provide over 13,000 people with information on under-5 nutrition to improve overall community health.
At the Friday event, skilled personnel will measure children’s weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), among additional nutritional assessments. Journalists will have access to interview parents with malnourished children, CFK Africa nutrition program staff, and CHPs.
For interview requests, please contact CFK Africa’s Communications Consultant, Thomas Bwire.
Email: thomas.bwire2015@gmail.com | Tel:+254723262108
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About CFK Africa
Founded in 2001, CFK Africa improves public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements in Kenya through integrated health and youth leadership initiatives. Using a participatory development approach, CFK Africa works directly with community residents to develop and implement sustainable programs. After marking 20 years of service in Kibera in 2021, CFK Africa began expanding to additional informal settlements in Nairobi County and across seven additional counties in Kenya, including Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombasa, and Nakuru. For more information, visit www.cfkafrica.org.
