The government of Kenya is committed to the achievement of Global, Regional and National targets for nutrition, including the sustainable development goals (SDGs) post 2015 – 2030, which highlights nutrition in SDG 2 (end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture) and SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). The Kenyan constitution also provides for citizens’ rights to good health and nutrition which has an important role in economic growth, poverty reduction and the realization of Kenya’s Vision 2030. The achievement of a long term development agenda for Kenya, anchored in Vision 2030, calls for a healthy and productive Labour force. Interventions targeting optimal maternal infant and young child feeding (MIYCN) have been proven to significantly contribute to the achievement of the development agenda. Increases in exclusive breastfeeding rates from 32% to 61%, and reductions in undernutrition, including stunting (35% to 26%), wasting (7% to 4%) and underweight (16% to 11%) from 2008-2014 have been documented.1 Despite these improvements, poor complementary feeding practices are still rampant in the country, as only one in five children consume the minimum acceptable diet2. In addition, the country has not yet achieved the MDG targets for stunting (16%). Poor maternal infant and young child nutrition practices are the main cause of child malnutrition in Kenya.
The Ministry of Health recognizes the immediate and long-term social and economic repercussions of malnutrition amongst infants and young children. The BFCI implementation guidelines have been developed to operationalize MIYCN policy whose aim is to protect, promote and support optimal maternal and infant and young child feeding practices and improve child survival. These guidelines will also actualize the National Nutrition Action Plan (NNAP) and County Nutrition Action Plans (CNAP). The BFCI implementation guidelines also provide strategic guidance for the implementation of community-focused interventions, which is detailed in Kenya’s Community Health Strategy, as part of the Kenya National Health Sector Strategic Plan (KHSSP) to deliver the Kenya Essential Package for Health (KEPH).
The Kenya Government is committed to allocate human and material resources and provide effective coordination to protect, facilitate and encourage optimal MIYCN at the community level and create an environment that fosters nutrition well-being, affirming the right of every child and every pregnant and lactating woman to be adequately nourished. I urge all stakeholders to play their role in actualizing the implementation of this BFCI guideline.
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