ABSTRACT
Data on health, welfare, and social dimensions were compiled to identify major problems and to design interventions appropriate to Mbita Division. This chapter describes the status of health and nutrition in Mbita Division and has identified conditions that contribute to the high frequency of malnutrition and child mortality. It discusses the health problems—malnutrition, poor immunization coverage, and poor sanitation facilities—are related to the issue of low public awareness of health issues. South Nyanza District in Western Kenya has the highest rate of childhood mortality in Kenya, as well as very high rates of malnutrition and malaria. Many studies have demonstrated that malnourished children do poorly in school and lack the mental potential of healthy children, even if they recover from the nutritional stress. Milk from the cows, ghee, and fresh or dried blood were all regular parts of the diet, reportedly added to the infants’ porridge and thus increasing the nutritional quality.
