The Migori County Department of Health is urging parents with children aged 2 to 6 years to take their children to hospitals for vitamin A supplements. This initiative aims to address the rising cases of vitamin A deficiency in the county.
Steve Oyugi, a nutritionist at Migori Referral Hospital, reported that less than 50 percent of children under six years in Migori County have received the vitamin A supplement. Oyugi mentioned that despite efforts to reach out to parents, some have not brought their children to health facilities.
To address this, the hospital is collaborating with teachers at all Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers in the county to distribute vitamin A supplements.
The county nutritionist highlighted that many children suffering from vitamin A deficiency are experiencing vision problems. A recent report titled “Identifying and Understanding Barriers to Optimal Complementary Feeding in Kenya” revealed that six out of ten children in Kenya aged 23 months to six years suffer from vitamin A deficiency, which is linked to conditions like blindness.
To combat this issue, various non-governmental organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), are promoting the cultivation and consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in Migori County, as they are rich in vitamin A.
