Nairobi 10 February 2012: The war against malnutrition in children is set to take on a new dimension with the launch of a new public awareness campaign that seeks to significantly reduce prevalence of malnutrition and needless infant and young child deaths across Kenya.

The campaign, which is scheduled to be unveiled later this month, will run under a collaborative partnership between the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and Save the Children, a leading international child rights organization fighting for immediate and lasting improvements to children's lives in Kenya and in over 120 countries worldwide.

In a country where approximately 50% of infant and young child deaths are as a direct result of malnutrition, the public awareness campaign focuses on empowering the wider public to take definitive measures within their individual spheres of influence to dramatically reduce child malnutrition.

Television news casters Anne Kiguta and Lillian Muli-Kanene today put their names to paper, alongside one of Kenya’s popular stand up comedians, Eric Omondi as advocates committed to promoting good nutrition in infants and children. In coming weeks the three personalities will kick off various initiatives to bridge the knowledge gap.

Speaking during a briefing session with the three personalities, Ms Wanja Gitonga, Every One Campaign Manager, Save the Children UK said that there was a strong need for everyone to take a definitive role in the fight against malnutrition.

“There is a growing misconception that malnutrition is limited to only segments of the country’s population, particularly those of low socio-economic status”, she said.  However, data from the Kenya Demographic Health Survey indicates that 25% of stunted children (short for age) were found in the highest health quintile. 

While a lot of strides have been made by the Government of Kenya in addressing the issue of malnutrition, we strongly feel that greater achievements in reducing prevalence of malnutrition can be realized when the wider population is sufficiently informed and urged to take responsibility for their health and nutrition”, she added.

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For further information please contact

• Terry Wefwafwa, Head, Division of Nutrition, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation
• Olivia Mwongera, Save The Children 0722 535543

Anne Kiguta and Eric Omondi sign up as advocates of good nutrition.  The duo will work alongside Lillian Muli-Kanene as goodwill ambassadors of a public awareness campaign on nutrition, that will be launched later this month.  The campaign is an initiative of Save The Children, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and seeks to raise awareness around hunger and malnutrition in children below the age of five years.