Turkana partners with Save the Children, UNICEF to strengthen fight against malnutrition
Health and Nutrition Coordinator at Save the Children Akutan Lobolia said the integration will allow community health promoters to address malnutrition more effectively.
The Turkana County Department of Health and Sanitation, through Chief Officer for Medical Services Gilchrist Lokoel, has partnered with Save the Children to train community health promoters (CHPs) in managing acute malnutrition.
The training, supported by UNICEF, will target CHPs in Loima, Lokiriama, and Kibish sub-counties. It is designed to equip them with the skills to identify, screen, treat, and refer common childhood illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malnutrition at the household level.
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Lokoel noted that Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) has been effective in reducing childhood diseases among children under five. The training will therefore emphasise Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) protocols, enabling CHPs to detect, treat, and refer malnutrition cases within their communities.
Akutan Lobolia, the Health and Nutrition Coordinator at Save the Children, said the integration will allow CHPs to address malnutrition more effectively.
Following the training, the county will launch an 18-month operational research study to evaluate the integration of CMAM into ICCM, to improve early detection and community-based management of malnutrition.
Lokoel applauded the collaborative efforts behind ICCM implementation, stressing the role of research and innovation in advancing Turkana’s long-term health goals.
This initiative highlights the county’s commitment to strengthening community health systems, especially in remote and underserved areas. It is expected to significantly reduce preventable child deaths while building stronger, more resilient communities.
According to the health department, empowering CHPs to manage acute malnutrition will help improve health outcomes for children in the county.
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