Influence of household food security in the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs in Buuri district of Meru county, Kenya

Abstract

The issue of orphans and vulnerable children can no longer be ignored in the present world if the millennium development goals are to be achieved and more close at home vision 2030. It is when a child has enough food to eat at all times that they will have good health, are emotionally secure and can concentrate in their education. This study therefore is based on influence of household food security in the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs in Buuri District of Meru County. The study is based on four main objectives related to household food security which are food availability, access to resources to acquire food, food utilization requirements and stability of food security systems in relation to the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs in Buuri district. The study focused on OVC in four locations of Buuri division of Buuri District. The District was sampled for reasons that it is a grain basket, has diverse economic activities, is affected by severe droughts in equal measure and a number of Non- governmental organizations are carrying out orphans and vulnerable children interventions programs but achieving their goals has remained elusive. “Is it that these interventions have not established the association between household food security in relation to the welfare of OVC?” Descriptive research design was applied using survey method where a questionnaire was applied to 149 OVC. The data was analyzed and presented through descriptive statistics, but for qualitative data detailed narrative was used to summarize data on influence of household food security in the implementation of orphans and vulnerable children programs carried out by various NGOs in the District. The study found out that there is not enough food available all the time in households of orphans and vulnerable children in Buuri District. Based on the research findings and conclusions the study recommended that NGOs and the government should team up to address the issues of food insecurity in Buuri District in terms of providing relief food to the orphans and vulnerable children as well as capacity building to households to be self-sufficient in food security. This will help to ensure that the children get sufficient food for proper growth and development when their other needs are being addressed.