The effect of drought has severely impacted food security preventing vulnerable families from meeting required nutritional needs. The pandemic and long distances to health facilities also denied mothers and caregivers a chance to access referral centres for needed treatment. The dire situation has caused great fear and worries calling for urgent attention.

In response, with funding from USAID and UNICEF, Kenya Red Cross scaled up surveillance for malnutrition at the household level through the use of family Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC), also known as Mother-led MUAC or Mama MUAC. The intervention has contributed to the capacity enhancement of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and caregivers in the far-flung areas in the Arid and Semi-Arid locations of Marsabit county. The trained volunteers are promoting behaviour change through homes visits, initiate dialogue with household members, determine the health situation, deliver key health messages, and undertake necessary actions; guide the community on health improvement and disease prevention . During these visits they continue to sensitise mothers or caregivers with children 6 – 59 months on the Family MUAC .
This is part of the MOH guidance on continuity of services during the COVID- pandemic in compliance with the Infection Prevention Measures. The roll out is carried out in a phased approach with Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana, Tana River, Kilifi and Kisumu in phase 3 following the successful pilot in Tana River county.

Concept & Editing: Bundi John