Nutrition International empowers women and girls in Kenya through the Right Start Initiative

On 15 June 2017, Nutrition International launched the $CAD 9.1M  (712M Ksh) “Right Start Initiative” in Kenya to improve the nutritional status of the population over the next five years.

The project will target 21 counties and reach:

• 710,000 pregnant women with WHO-recommended iron and folic acid supplementation,
• over 665,000 newborns with a package of interventions at birth,
• 810,000 adolescent girls with weekly iron and folic supplementation and nutrition education, and,
• 636,000 children under two years old with nutrition services.

986,000 women of reproductive age and adolescent girls will also be reached through the fortification of commercial maize flour with iron and folic acid at a national level.

To prepare future generations to fully take advantage of their physical and cognitive potential, it is important to invest in the nutrition of women including the adolescent girls. That is why I would like to express my support and thanks to Nutrition International and the Government of Canada for the Right Start Program in Kenya, which will inevitably make a significant contribution to our country’s efforts in fighting malnutrition.”

Dr Warfa Osman, Head of Neonatal, Child Health and Adolescent Health, Kenya Ministry of Health.

The Right Start Initiative, supported by the Government of Canada, launched in May 2016 and is a ground-breaking investment platform with the aim of reaching 100 million women and girls with improved nutrition by 2020. The five strategic pillars include high impact programs, partnerships, resource mobilization, technical assistance and advocacy.

Through Right Start, ado girls in Kenya will receive WIFAS to reduce anaemia & help them reach their full potential: https://t.co/YIx8SL9IzMpic.twitter.com/bDGG9Iu7RQ

— NutritionIntl (@NutritionIntl) June 19, 2017

“Right Start” project launch in #Kenya today; improved nutrition for women, adolescent girls, and children @CanadaDev pic.twitter.com/1Yjgx2mClR

— Canada in Kenya (@CanHCKenya) June 15, 2017