As a measure to mitigate rising concern of stunted growth resulting from malnutrition which has been the main contributor to 38 % absenteeism among learners under 5 years in Busia, the County Government of Busia has affirmed its commitment to support the ongoing school feeding program which was rolled out last year to provide a hot nutritious meal at school for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners.
This programme was launched following the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) statistical report, which had revealed that 15 percent of children under 5 years in Busia County are facing the challenge of stunted growth due to malnutrition as a result of food insecurity.
According to UNICEF report, a significant percentage of children under 5 are stunted and underweight a clear indication of inadequate nutrition.
The school feeding programme aims at providing an opportunity for most children to access at least a single meal in a day, which is healthy enough to meet their daily nutritional requirement. Dubbed OTUOMA NUTRI-CARE, the programme is aimed at reducing acute forms of malnutrition.
Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma stated that the provision of meals to over 50,000 ECDE learners in over 460 public education centres will increase school enrollment and retention of learners in schools.
Dr. Otuoma noted that it’s very disheartening that a significant percentage of children in Busia County are starting their lives very disadvantaged because of inadequate food.
“Imagine more than 10 percent of children born in Busia are starting their lives very disadvantaged because of food; this underscores the importance of school feeding programme to our ECDE learners,” noted Dr. Otuoma.
He added that through the Ward-Based Economic Revitalization Programme, they will create the linkage with rice farmers in Budalangi to support them to produce enough foodstuff for consumption and equally generate their income.
Governor Otuoma pointed out that they have engaged Magombe Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society and Bumamu Rice Farmers, respectively, in Budalang’i constituency to support them in rice production for ECDE school feeding programme at very fair prices.
“We must support the local cooperatives that are producing very healthy organic rice in Budalangi and equally stabilize the rice prices to avoid exploitation of our farmers with guaranteed minimum returns,” said Dr. Otuoma.
He further revealed the plans to venture into rice value addition in Bunyala as most of the raw rice is taken to Uganda at a very low price, making farmers incur losses.
Magombe Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Official Berry Susan has applauded the partnership with the County Government of Busia to supply rice to schools under school feeding programme to ECDE learners, stating that the rice farmers are now reaping their hard work.
“Last year, we supplied 72 tonnes of rice and this year so far we have distributed 61 tonnes at a good price of Sh60 per kilogram compared to brokers prices of Sh30 per kilogram,” Susan explained.
She added that the Magombe Society has now improved its services to farmers, including value addition, ploughing, and transport, among others.
The Head teachers of the primary schools hosting the ECDE learners hailed the school feeding programme, noting the improvement in enrollment and a happy lot.
Rev. Peter Iganga, the Head teacher Mujuru Primary in Matayos constituency, appreciated the school programme because it has improved the attendance of ECDE learners.
“We want to appreciate what the County Government has done in school feeding programme for our ECDE learners and actually it has improved the attendance of lessons and they are also very happy for getting meals in schools regularly,” said Rev. Peter Iganga.
His sentiments were echoed by John Nyongesa the chairman Board of Management at Igero Primary School in Matayos constituency, who stated that the parents have embraced the programme for it has improved enrollment of the ECDE learners.
“Since the rollout, we have noted its instant impact of attracting learners to attend school daily reducing absenteeism cases hence more enrollment,” noted Nyongesa.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has selected Busia alongside Makueni, as pioneer counties for rolling out model institutions of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) school feeding programme.
UNICEF aims to bring together all the ECDE stakeholders to address several challenges, including nutrition, enrollment, absenteeism, and retention among learners.
By Absalom Namwalo
