The strategic plan for the Ministry of Medical Services underlines medical services reform agenda as a lead strategy in the realization of the sectoral objectives outlined in the NHSSP II and Vision 2030. Central to this agenda is the need to strengthen health care service delivery focusing on equitable access, quality and responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness. Given the strong association between malnutrition and increased risk of morbidity and mortality, hospitalization and time taken for patient to recuperate and the reduction in the cost of health care, the importance of nutrition care in the delivery of curative and rehabilitative health services cannot be overemphasized. Moreover, in line with the Kenya’s Essential Package for Health, the ministry’s strategic plan identifies the need for nutrition and dietetic services as well as provision of therapeutic and supplemental nutrition commodity for the management of malnourished patients as a core area of focus.
Irrespective of the cause of morbidity, all inpatient and outpatient clients require nutrition care services ranging from counseling and education to nutrition support therapies. The importance of these interventions is exemplified by the observation that, clinical nutrition is a core component of the national strategy on management of diabetes mellitus and accounts for up to 70% of the effort in management and prevention of the disease complications. In addition, the burden of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS and attendant opportunistic infections double the need for clinical nutrition care in our hospitals. With the core function of the Ministry being to ensure availability of essential medical care as needed, the Division of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics has developed a Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Manual that aims at enhancing availability of nutrition services at all levels. The roll out of this manual is one of the key steps that the Ministry is taking towards advancing the quality of clinical service delivery in hospitals countrywide. It is intended to help patients through improved care during hospitalization and recuperation at home.
Furthermore, the Ministry’s strategic plan recommends the establishment of medicine and therapeutic committees in all health facilities. This manual will assist these committees in the integration and strengthening of nutrition services in a standardized manner. To fast track this process, facilities may find it useful to establish facility nutrition support team to advise the committee on in patient feeding and nutritional management of various diseases and conditions, prescription of appropriate foods and nutraceuticals and drug-nutrient interactions among other aspects. These teams will review the facility standard operating procedures and recommend strategies to ensure development towards attainment of international standards of nutrition service delivery. In addition, this manual will address important gaps in existing curriculums for training front line clinical staff trainees in nutrition support and therapy. The government fully appreciates contributions and participation by partners and other stakeholders in preparing this manual and for supporting ongoing nutrition care services in the country.
Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang' Nyong'o EGH, MP
Minister for Medical Services