Kenyan Ministry of Health boosts capacity of health workers to manage acute malnutrition 

KENYA – The Kenyan Ministry of Health’s Division of Nutrition and Dietetics, in collaboration with the WHO Kenya Country Office and other implementing partners, has initiated a six-day training workshop on the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM). 

The workshop, which will run from June 24 to 29 at Lake Naivasha Resort, aims to strengthen the skills and knowledge of nutritionists and clinicians from 16 counties in Kenya. 

This training is part of a broader effort to address severe acute malnutrition, a major public health issue in Kenya. 

Malnutrition significantly increases the risk of morbidity and mortality in children, with severely wasted children being 12 times more likely to die than their well-nourished peers. 

The 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey revealed progress in reducing stunting and obesity but noted a marginal increase in wasting levels, highlighting the ongoing need for targeted interventions. 

While national wasting levels stand at 5.0%, some arid and semi-arid counties (ASAL) report persistently above 15% Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates, indicating a critical need for enhanced healthcare services in these regions. 

The recent Integrated Phase Classification for Acute Malnutrition (IPC-AMN) assessment in February 2024 estimated that approximately 847,000 children aged 6 to 59 months and 124,000 pregnant and lactating women require treatment for acute malnutrition. 

As of May 2024, 347,265 children under five are enrolled in nationwide treatment programs. 

The workshop in Naivasha, featuring a standardized modular training package adapted from the WHO “Training Course on the Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition 2022,” includes comprehensive clinical practice sessions. 

“The training aims to address the significant capacity gaps in managing acute malnutrition, especially in non-ASAL counties,” said a Division of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson. 

“By equipping healthcare workers with the necessary skills, we aim to improve nutrition service delivery and the quality of care for displaced and hard-to-reach populations, thereby alleviating morbidities and preventable mortalities.”

Participants will also receive updates on the 2023 WHO recommendations on preventing and managing acute malnutrition. 

The knowledge and skills gained from this workshop will be crucial for supporting IMAM services in their respective counties, contributing to the broader goal of reducing malnutrition and improving child health outcomes in Kenya.

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