Rwanda is among the few countries in Africa that has achieved nearly all Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and made remarkable strides in improving the health and well-being of its citizens over the past decade.

However, despite the outstanding advancements, challenges persist in the Rwandan health care system. For instance, 38 percent of children suffer from chronic malnutrition according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda under the Rwanda Households survey, 2019-2020.

Among districts suffering from high rates of stunting among children of less than two years of age, Rutsiro District stands in the top five places in terms of having children under two years experience stunting during the previous two consecutive maternal and child health week campaigns in May 2022 and June 2023.

It is for this reason therefore that World Vision Rwanda, alongside the government through the Ministry of Health and other partners launched "Professional Umuganda”, a nutrition project in Rutsiro District on April 4, to eliminate malnutrition and stunting among children of under-five years and improve their well-being as well as their families’.

Pauline Okumu, the National Director at World Vision Rwanda explained that the nutrition project aimed to combat chronic malnutrition (stunting) – which impedes the growth and development of children, and called upon all stakeholders to take action through collective effort.

"We shall implement an assessment to solve malnutrition and stunting in the district because stunting is high yet there is production, rain, food, and everything. We shall look at the status of the current situation and enforce advocacy accordingly,” Okumu stated.

The National Director called for partners to join forces together in the fight to combat malnutrition emphasizing that collaboration is at the heart of World Vision’s mission.

She said: "Without the steadfast partnership of the government and all our valued partners, our goal remains out of reach. Let us unite as a force for change, rallying together to ensure that every child receives the nourishment they deserve.”

According to the Rutsiro District health unit, the main causes of malnutrition and stunting in Rutsiro include poverty, food insecurity, limited social protection intervention (milk access, insufficient fruit plants) and small livestock, insufficiently diversified crops, and lack of proper best-WASH practices.

Therefore, Okumu noted that combating malnutrition and stunting in Rutsiro District in the next six months will require interventions like increasing knowledge of caregivers on child feeding and breastfeeding practices, and raising the awareness of caregivers towards family versus children’s food preparations.

"We shall also enhance knowledge of caregivers towards WASH practices, rehabilitation of children in malnutrition status and strong monitoring in their health and human services and improve food security in the long term and family wellbeing,” Okumu said.

Lambert Dushimimana, the Governor of Western Province, noted that national development entirely depends on the solutions from healthy citizens because if they are not healthy, they become a problem to the country.

"It is in this line that the government joined the drive to eradicate poor feeding and malnutrition of all children under the age of five to avoid the high statistics from negatively impacting the future of the country,” he stated.

Dushimimana highlighted that projections from efforts by the government and partners still show that there is a long way to go, but there is hope regarding the right track based on tangible results obtained annually.

"However, we still need collective efforts, and need to trace where this effort ought to be invested because in several cases, guardians and parents are careless. The sensitization campaigns yet to be initiated also aim to change attitude on this issue.”

Dushimimana urged parents, especially pregnant mothers, to receive antenatal care to have healthy unborn babies and improve their general health.

He emphasized the need for every pregnant woman to be guided on proper nutrition through their whole pregnancy journey as well as do regular checkups to assist healthcare workers detect problems early, to be able to provide necessary treatment and support to save both the mother and the baby.

"I urge parents and caretakers to care for their children because if they don’t, they will be a burden to them and the country,” Dushimimana said.

Rutsiro District Mayor Dative Kayitesi highlighted that the growth of zero to three-year-olds who get a balanced diet increased to 80 percent, highlighting that 90 percent of infants who get a balanced diet possess a higher chance to have high grades in school.

In 2010-2015, Rutsiro District showed a 45 per cent higher chance in stunting of children. Another 2019-2020 health report showed a slight decrease to 44.4 per cent.

A wide campaign was then launched to decrease stunting to 39 per cent.

"As citizens, we joined forces with World Vision Rwanda, UNICEF, religious groups and other communities to form the ‘Professional Umuganda’ campaign with different authorities working under our district, including medical staff and other partners to eliminate stunting.

"In Rutsiro District, we have over 180 children who don’t feed on a balanced diet. Although we have diverse types of foods, we still encounter the challenge of lack of a balanced diet and we wonder why the upsurge of the issue,” Kayitesi stated.

She highlighted the problem of scarce clean water among households, which is one of the possible reasons for poor diet.

"I may illustrate an example of Bugarura island located in Western Province, with a population of 2,000 residents without access to clean water.”

Kayitesi is optimistic that the nutrition campaign which will be in six cells of Rutsiro District will curtail many issues including poverty which affects 13,500 families.