A board member with the National Council for Population and Development Leah Chirchir has emphasised the importance of using data in addressing the emerging population and development challenges in the country.
Speaking during the dissemination of the sessional paper No.1 of 2023 on the Kenya National Population Policy for Sustainable Development in Iten, the board member said the policy was key in guiding stakeholders in developing county specific plans on population related issues.
“We require data and research so that it informs us how population looks like and therefore determine the programs and projects to be implemented to address the various development issues,” she said.
Ms Chirchir who is also a director of planning revealed that in Elgeyo Marakwet, only 43% of children are fully immunised which she said exposes the children to various diseases which will affect their future.
She added that 22% of children aged between 2-5 years in the county suffered stunted growth as a result of malnutrition which affects the children in terms of their education and health among others.
“The county therefore requires stakeholders who can invest in programmes targeting dietary and nutritional needs among children to enable them grow normally,” she said.
During the exercise, stakeholders who included government, faith based organisations and civil society groups among others were informed that 4.5% of mothers in the county deliver at home with 0.3% being assisted by relatives.
This according to John Bernard Kiprotich from NCPD was risky for the mothers as major causes of maternal mortality were excessive bleeding, lack of oxygen and infections which cannot be addressed at home as they require medical expertise.
On sanitation, the participants were also informed that only 29% of residents in the county have access to toilets which is a very basic need thus exposing many to waterborne diseases as a result of contaminated water and poor hygiene.
While the number of the elderly was increasing in the county, only 27% had access to some form of health insurance thus making it quite expensive for them to access treatment.
The Keiyo North DCC Julius Maiyo who represented the county commissioner said with the ever increasing population, there was need for planning for the same saying the county has been affected by disasters like landslides as a result of population pressure with people living and undertaking agricultural activities on steep slopes.
By Alice Wanjiru
