Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Speech by H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, The First Lady of The Republic of Kenya, During The National Nutrition Symposium

    Uploaded by

    First Lady Kenya
    53 views2 pages
    The speech by H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, during the National Nutrition Symposium at the Kenya School of Government on Wednesday, 18th February, 2015.

    Original Title

    Speech By H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of The Republic of Kenya, During the National Nutrition Symposium

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The speech by H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, during the National Nutrition Symposium at the Kenya School of Government on Wednesday, 18th February, 2015.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    53 views2 pages

    Speech by H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, The First Lady of The Republic of Kenya, During The National Nutrition Symposium

    Uploaded by

    First Lady Kenya
    The speech by H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, during the National Nutrition Symposium at the Kenya School of Government on Wednesday, 18th February, 2015.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 2

    SPEECHBYH.E.

    MARGARETKENYATTA,THEFIRSTLADYOFTHEREPUBLICOF
    KENYA,DURINGTHENATIONALNUTRITIONSYMPOSIUM,ATTHEKENYASCHOOL
    OFGOVERNMENTONWEDNESDAY,18THFEBRUARY,2015.

    DistinguishedGuests,
    LadiesandGentlemen,

    ItisagreathonortobewithyouatthisNationalNutritionSymposium,aswetakestockofthe
    achievementsKenyahasmadesincejoiningtheglobalScalingUpNutritionMovement(SUN),in
    2012.Wearealsoheretorecognizetheeffortsbydonorsandotherpartnerstoscaleupnutrition
    activities.

    Iampleasedtojointhenutritionsectorasanutritionpatronandadvocateforwomensandchildrens
    healthanddevelopmentwherenutritionplaysakeyrole.Irecognizethatfocusingonimprovingdiets
    forwomen,childrenandtheentirefamilyisessentialforthedevelopmentofournation.

    Sadly,despiteadvancedscientificevidenceandknowledgeoncausesofmalnutritionandhowto
    addresstheproblem,wehavenotgivennutritionenoughattentionasindividuals,plannersand
    leaders.Therefore,thisistherighttimeandforumtorededicateoureffortsintocorrectingthissorry
    stateofaffairs.

    IamgladtonotethatsinceKenyajoinedtheglobalScalingupNutritionMovementin2012,anumber
    ofstakeholdershavecometogetherandformedtheScalingUpNutritionnetworkamongthem,
    GovernmentMinistries,Donors,UNAgencies,civilsocietyandbusinessorganizations.Iamhappy
    thatweallunderstandourroleandwehavestartedtotakeaction.

    Wecannotaffordtositbackandwatchasmotherssufferfromundernutritionduringpregnancy.We
    cannotignoretheover2millionchildrenundertheageoffiveyearswhoarestuntedandwho
    cannotreachtheirfullmentalandphysicalpotentialduetocommon,manageableconditionswith
    undernutritionastheunderlyingcause.Itisunacceptabletohaveover19,000childrendyingevery
    yearbecausetheyareunderweightduetolackofadequatefood.

    Vitaminsandmineralsareimportantandwecanobtainthemfromfruitsandvegetablesbut
    unfortunatelychildrenandwomenarenotconsumingthemregularlyasexpected,andthisleadsto
    vitaminandmineraldeficiencies.

    ItisgoodtonotethattheMinistryofAgricultureisworkingwiththeMinistryofHealthtolink
    nutritiontoagricultureandtheseinitiativesneedtobescaledup.

    Thiswillhelptopreventover10,000childdeathseveryyearduetoVitaminAdeficiencies.
    Breastfeedingisthebestfoodforthebaby.However,exclusivebreastfeedingforthefirstsixmonths
    ofachildslifeisnotpracticedbymanymothers,andtheadditionofothernutritiousfoodsfromsix
    monthsisnotdoneappropriately.

    Icalluponbothnationalandcountygovernmentstoallocateenoughresources,tosupportthe
    implementationoftheNationalNutritionActionPlan.Countiesareencouragedtodeveloptheir
    nutritionplansthattheywillusetomobilizeresourcesthesamewaythenationalgovernmentdoes.

    Onmypart,IamcommittedtoactasanadvocatefornutritionandIwouldliketoseemothersandcare
    giversbeingsupportedtoappropriatelyfeedtheirbabies.

    Thiscanbeachievedbyhavingallhealthfacilitiescertifiedasbabyfriendlyandnutritionbeing
    integratedintheongoingreviewoftheschoolcurriculumsothatourchildrencangrowknowinghow
    whattheyeataffectstheirlives.

    AsIconclude,IwishtothanktheEuropeanUnionforfundingthisnobleprojectthroughUNICEF.It
    isnowmypleasuretolaunchtheMaternalandChildNutritionProject.


    ThankYou.

    You might also like