MAKUENI, VITAMIN ANGELS PARTNER TO TACKLE ANAEMIA THROUGH NEW NUTRITION STRATEGIES.
Makueni County, in collaboration with Vitamin Angels through the transforming lives consortium, on Friday concluded a four-day co-creation workshop held in Makindu and Wote.
The forum brought together community leaders, pregnant and lactating mothers, development partners, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), healthcare workers, administrators, and influencers, including spouses and mothers-in-law.
The workshop focused on developing strategies to address anaemia, which currently stands at 40 percent in the county, according to data from the Kenya Health Data Information System (KDHIS).
Dr. Lucy Kanya, Regional director for Vitamin Angels noted that while pregnant women have been receiving daily Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplements, many still experience other micronutrient deficiencies, adding that the deficiencies are linked to adverse outcomes such as anaemia, prematurity, and low birth weight.
Further ,while IFA supplementation coverage is high, adherence according to Dr. Lucy remains low as evidenced in the poor health outcomes such as anaemia, which currently stands at 40 percent in the county according to data from the Kenya Health and Information System.
During the workshop,participants validated research findings to support the implementation of multiple micronutrient supplementation within the antenatal care platform in the county.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends MMS which contains 15 essential vitamins and minerals for positive pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vitamin Angels in 2025 to support the introduction of MMS within the ANC platform in Makueni.
The programme will be implemented across 13 health facilities, including the county referral hospital, six sub-county hospitals, four health centres, and two dispensaries.
County Nutrition Coordinator Ruth Kaloki said the workshop outcomes will guide the development of tailored messages and materials suited to the Makueni context.
She added that the strategies will be rolled out alongside the distribution of MMS and monitored to inform potential countywide scale-up.
