MARALAL, Kenya [ACTED News] - Limited access to clean water is showing negative impacts on malnutrition rates in Samburu County, Kenya. Contamination at the source and household level is apparent due to lack of knowledge of safe water and food handling, and the absence of water treatment systems. In order to raise awareness on proper hygiene, water treatment, and storage, ACTED with UNICEF funding has aired 36 key hygiene and sanitation messages and 27 longer feature stories on Serian FM, a local community radio station. These radio spots are expected to reach at least 5,000 individuals in their local language, although more people will benefit as the station airs to an audience of 50,000. The radio spots complement ongoing water and sanitation activities in the County, and feedback from listeners has been positive with frequent requests to replay the messages. “The subjects they discuss in the stories are exactly the kind of issues we face and talk about ourselves,” said one woman listener from Maralal town.

Radio spots help reduce malnutrition in Kenya by ACTED