According to IRIN News, Global Acute Malnutrition levels in Kenya are above the 15 percent emergency threshold established by the UN World Health Organization. The news comes despite recent rains that increased productivity and in turn had a positive effect on the local economy. Unfortunately, the Kenya Food Security Outlook reports that "Improvements in household food security have not translated into a decisive reduction in rates of child malnutrition in the northeastern districts."

Enrico Eminae, ActionAid Kenya northeast region coordinator, blames lack of education and limited sources of income. Eminae explains that "Due to the high illiteracy levels that characterize this region, most people, especially women, [do not] ensure that children receive a balanced diet. This makes malnutrition a [common] occurrence." For example, in order to generate income, nutritious food like milk, beans, green-grams, and eggs are sold for starches like corn flour, rice, and spaghetti which require little water and time to prepare but are lacking in nutrients.

Vitamin Angels is helping to fight child malnutrition in Kenya by educating children and mothers about nutrition and healthy foods and connecting them with essential nutrients. We are reaching 1,750 children with vitamin A through Operation 20/20 and 32,600 pregnant and lactating women with essential vitamins through Thrive to Five. We are also introducing a zinc supplementation project in Kenya with the help of our partners at Novus.

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Photo: John Nyaga/IRIN

"A mother and child at a therapeutic feeding centre in Mandera"