Ida decries infant mortality, asks State to tackle malnutrition

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By Fatuma Fugicha

Mrs Ida Odinga has called on the Government to tackle malnutrition.

The Prime Minister’s wife said intervention was needed to explore cost-effective solutions. Speaking during the Copenhagen Consensus Conference in Nairobi, yesterday, Mrs Odinga said malnutrition among infants was chronic.

"Action has to be mitigated by our Government to avoid such crisis," said Ida.

Quoting the World Health Organisation, Ida said about 20 million infants are born with low birth weight around the world annually, making them vulnerable to death.

She said: "There is high risk of dying at infancy stage for babies born underweight and for those who survive, they are likely to experience stunted growth."

Iron deficiency

She said the statistics of non-pregnant women who suffer from iron deficiency anaemia is more than 42 per cent and pregnant ones slightly higher at 55 per cent. She also said improve on sanitation and access to clean water would address malnutrition. Representatives from international aid organisations, researchers, NGOs and the business community along with the Ministry of Health are to spearhead actions to achieve feasible ways to eradicate mulnutrition.