Kenya is Getting Healthier, New Report

Kenya on Tuesday joined four other countries that simultaneously launched the Global Nutrition Report 2016.

The report that was also launched in South Africa, Sweden, the USA and India explains that Kenya is progressing as it is the only country in the world that has shown progress in all the five World Health Assembly (WHA) nutrition targets.

‘More than a quarter (26%) of children below 5 years are stunted while 11% are underweight, 4% are wasted. Kenya ranks 5^th in Sub Saharan Africa in breast feeding prevalence,’ commented Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr. Cleopa Mailu. 

However there are still nutritional disparities in the nutritional status across different counties.

‘Policies in Kenya are elaborate to eliminate malnutrition. However people should know that these plans exist. Because health has been devolved then county governments should set aside budgets for nutrition,’ said Grainne Moloney Chief, Nutrition Section from UNICEF.

Ms. Moloney advised county governments to prioritize issues of nutrition.

‘Improving nutrition is one of the core commitments of my ministry as it plays a big role both prevention and management of diseases. This can be reflected in the Kenya health Sector Strategic Plan (KHSSP) and in the Kenya National Nutrition Action Plan (2012-2017),’ said Dr. Mailu.

Parliamentary Health Committee chairperson Dr. Rachel Nyamai has said that Parliament has passed several laws that support nutrition in Kenya like Nutritionists and Dieticians Act and lately the health Bill which is at the Senate level.

The First Lady Margaret  Kenyatta who is the patron of the scaling-up nutrition movement said  the Kenya’s National strategy for the  National Nutrition Action Plan both  demonstrate  Kenya’s national choice and consciousness on the importance of preserving and advancing the health of all Kenyans.

 ‘To end malnutrition there is need for proper policy direction, national investment on the area of nutrition and awareness especially on the need for exclusive breastfeeding. The burden of malnutrition robs our children from experiencing their full potential and it affects families, communities and societies,’ concluded he First Lady.

Jacob Juma attracts highest amount of traffic on Google in May

Google has released trends of what Kenyans searched for online during the month of May with businessman, the late Jacob Juma, topping the list of most trending searches. Juma was found dead in his car on 5 May, prompting Kenyans to find out more about events surrounding his death.

The second most trending search was Cheryl Kitonga, a university student who became infamous after an expose on Juma’s death by one of the local TV stations, which created debate across social media circles. Renowned media personality, Caroline Mutoko took to her YouTube channel to express her disappointment while at the same time expressing her defense for twenty-six year old Cheryl.

Third on the list was Swiss professional footballer Granit Xhaka after English football club Arsenal confirmed that it had signed the 23 year old from German football club Borussia Mönchengladbach for 25 million pounds.

Former Cabinet Minister Soita Shitanda was fourth on the list of most trending searches following his death while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital. The former Malava Member of Parliament had been admitted at the hospital for two weeks before he succumbed to the illness on Tuesday, 24 May.

The fifth most trending search was Rubella - an infection caused by the rubella virus. The infection, which is also known as German measles, was a trending search after the Ministry of Health announced that it would be conducting a vaccination drive across the country’s 47 counties.

Other trending searches were:  Mother’s Day as people celebrated motherhood on Sunday, May 8. This is a recurring search as Kenyans celebrated mother’s day on March 26 (which is mother’s day in the United Kingdom) as well as May 8 (which is mother’s day in the United States); Chikungunya  an infection caused by the chikungunya virus after the County Government of Mandera announced that an outbreak of the infection had claimed 14 lives as at Tuesday, May 31; Nyota Ndogo, after photos of her wedding surfaced online; Conjestina Achieng after false rumours of the former female World Boxing Champion’s demise surfaced online and Friday the 13th, as people went online to find out more about the day - commonly considered an unlucky day in western superstition.

The “What is” category was driven by curious Kenyans - who went online to find answers to some of their burning questions. What is rubella? was the most trending ‘what is’ search while What is a grammy? was second on the list perhaps owing to the 58th annual grammy awards ceremony.  What is hysteria was the third most trending ‘what is’ search as people sought to find out more about the psychological disorder. Other “what is” searches were: what is a cover letter; what is drooling; what is epilepsy; what is memorial day; what is floating check; what is climate change and what is a schengen visa.

In the ‘How to’ category, the dominant trending search was How to stop prolonged menses as people turned to search to find a solution to the condition. Excessive menstrual bleeding or Menorrhagia is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance, stress, excessive weight loss or gain among other factors. Doctors advice that if the condition persists for 7 or more days, one ought to consult a gynecologist. The second most trending ‘How to’ search was how to make simple fruit cake at home as people looked up simple cake recipes while How to style mambo twist came third on the list. Other trending ‘How to’ searches were: How to lose weight fast; How to file taxes online; How to make lemonade; How to have bigger hips; How to solve a rubix cube; How to use a computer and How to care for natural hair.

Most Trending Searches

1. Jacob Juma
2. Cheryl Kitonga
3. Granit Xhaka
4. Soita shitanda
5. Rubella
6. Mother’s day
7. Chikungunya
8. Nyota Ndogo
9. Conjestina Achieng
10. Friday the 13th

Most Trending ‘What is’ searches

1. What is rubella?
2. What is a grammy?
3. What is hysteria?
4. What is a cover letter?
5. What is drooling?
6. What is epilepsy?
7. What is memorial day?
8. What is floating check?
9. What is climate change?
10. What is a schengen visa

Most Trending ‘How to’ searches

1. How to stop prolonged menses
2. How to make simple fruit cake at home
3. How to style mambo twist
4. How to lose weight fast
5. How to file taxes online
6. How to make lemonade
7. How to have bigger hips
8. How to solve a rubix cube
9. How to use a computer
10. How to care for natural hair
    
    
     Via Agencies

Drivers awarded for their skills in East African region competition

Top drivers who work for humanitarian organizations in East Africa were feted over the weekend for exuding great skills in their area of work in the 1st Driver Recognition Programme DRP in the region.

The DRP 2016 which took place in Machakos County in Kenya over the weekend, attracted a pool of 14 drivers from the region in an effort to test their driving abilities and also to motivate them.

“Drivers have an extremely important role in humanitarian work. They take care of transportation of supplies in emergency areas in order to reach beneficiaries. They also ensure safety of staff members.They can make or break the success of an organization,” said Executive Director Paul Jansen, Fleet Forum whose company organized the competition.

The event co-hosted by World Vision and World Food Programme WFP, saw Simon Njaramba from WFP emerge as the winner.

An elated Njaramba who won a prize of $500 dedicated his prize to his family members.

“I was not sure if I would win but I did my best. Driving has its challenges but I still advice all drivers to be dedicated to their duty,” he continued.

The 1st runners up and 2nd runners up were Benson Nyundo from World Vision and Adero Dickson from UNDP Somalia.

“One of the essentials of this competition was that the driver took into consideration safety of his passengers. We were also interested on how the driver would engage his gears when encountering a rough terrain and steep slopes,” said Ngoni Mariga, an assessor during the competition from Globaltrack.

Uzel Tole from World Vision Kenya explained that even if he did not win, he would make an effort to apply what he had learnt and emerge winner during next year’s competition.

“The main aim of this event was not only to test their driving skills but also to bring out the importance of a driver’s work and train them on how to overcome the numerous obstacles that they would face while working,” explained Jansen.

Different drivers from the participating countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia and Ethiopia all agreed that they faced difficulties while dispensing their duties.

“During the El Nino rains it was difficult to deliver supplies in some affected regions,” said Ellypenda Niboye, WFP Tanzania.

Wolde Nidaw from Goal Ethiopia complained of rough terrain and insecurity challenges in his country.

HIV and AIDS Treatment Targets Surpassed, UNAIDS Survey

A recently released international report on People Living with HIV and AIDS has revealed that the number of people accessing treatment has surpassed the 2015 global target.

The Global AIDS update 2016 states released in Nairobi reveals that an estimated 17 million people were accessing life-saving antiretroviral medicines at the end of 2015 with an additional 2 million people gaining access over a 12-month period.

 

The 15 million target was set up by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011.

The latest UNAIDS data covering 160 countries explains that since the first global treatment target was set in 2003, annual AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 43%.

‘The full potential of antiretroviral therapy is being realized. I urge all countries to seize this unprecedented opportunity to put HIV prevention and treatment programmes on the Fast-Track and end the AIDS epidemic by 2030,’  said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. 

Nduku Kilonzo the Executive Director National AIDS Control Council NACC agrees with Sidibé despite the progress made in Kenya,’ We are wiping the floor but the tap is still running. We must invest in prevention. The world must have a target for prevention and allocate dedicated resources to prevention.’

Cabinet Secretary for Health Cleopa Mailu has called for continued collaboration with NACC, UNAIDS amongst other stakeholders in an effort to reduce prevalence.

 ‘We must catalyze investments across different sectors, with a focus on cost-effective and socially inclusive programmes if we are to succeed.  The Kenyan government has attached importance to HIV and AIDS and has treated it as a strategic issue for social stability and economic prosperity,’ he continued.

The Global AIDS update 2016 he world has committed to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

This comes as world leaders prepare to gather for the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, to take place in New York, United States of America, from 8 to 10 June 2016.