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Embu County officials participate in the CNAP launch ceremony

March 4, 2021 – Embu County today launched its County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) for 2020-2025. With an investment of Ksh 1.5 billion, the plan maps out a targeted, multisectoral approach to improve nutrition in the county.

While Embu County has made progress in improving access to healthcare and nutrition interventions, more needs to be done. 26.8% of children under five in the county are stunted, while 3% are wasted and 11% are underweight.

“The County Nutrition Action Plan builds on the county’s deliberate efforts to prioritize nutritional services in our food security and healthcare interventions.”

The CNAP sets realistic targets for identified priority nutrition interventions across various sectors including health, agriculture, education, water, gender and social protection. The plan is aligned with the County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022 and is designed to contribute to the Kenya Nutrition Action Plan, which recognizes the role of nutrition as a fundamental human right and a driver of economic development.

“The County Nutrition Action Plan builds on the county’s deliberate efforts to prioritize nutritional services in our food security and healthcare interventions,” said Embu County Governor H.E. Martin Wambora. “Going forward, we shall match these interventions with necessary budget allocations, particularly to ensure the sustainability of maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition interventions in the county.”

Anzilisha Plus, the county’s maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition project (MNCHN) funded by Nutrition International, aims to strengthen the enabling environment at the county and sub-county levels for quality MNCHN services, improve delivery of MNCHN services by frontline health workers at the facility and community levels, and improve demand for – and utilization    of – MNCHN services by pregnant and postpartum women, and caregivers of newborns and children under five.

“We call upon the governor and the county leadership to pursue a long-term approach to sustainable financing of nutrition in order to support the implementation of the CNAP and continuity of Anzilisha project interventions,” said Nutrition International Kenya Country Director Martha Nyagaya.

Nutrition International also supported the development of the CNAP through its Nutrition Technical Assistance Mechanism’s Technical Assistance for Nutrition project, funded with UK aid from the UK government.