Kenya’s Public Health Ministry Launches Nutrition Drive in Nairobi

The Public Health Ministry of Kenya has launched a fortification drive in Nairobi, encouraging Kenyans to eat foods rich in micronutrients to combat disease and improve health.

The drive is timed to coincide with the passing of a new law which will require food manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of their products by adding vitamins. Under the new law, the fortification of staples such as salt, maize flour, sugar and cooking oil will be mandatory.

Kenya’s nutrition drive also seeks to raise awareness about nutrition in the country, where more than 30 percent of children are under-nourished and micronutrient deficiency is common. Over two-thirds of the population is deficient in Vitamin A.

The pairing of the new law with the Public Health Ministry’s nutrition drive is a great example of the public and private partnerships needed for Kenya to reach its Millennium Development Goals by 2015.