With a 50.5 percent prevalence of stunting among children under the age of 5, Ngororero district is most affected with the problem of malnutrition and stunting in Rwanda.

The government has set targets to reduce malnutrition and stunting to less than 19 percent by 2024. The district hence has to fight hard to establish measures that will ensure it is not left behind.

Here, among other things, citizens of Gatumba, one of the sectors of the district, have started to put in place teams of people who can approach families that have malnourished children, and give them practical advice concerning preparations of a balanced diet, and dealing with issues like domestic violence.

Dubbed "N'uwacu tumurere," the initiative is currently led by Aimable Kabanda, a pastor and representative of the Rwanda Interfaith Council (RIC) in Gatumba.

"We found that malnutrition and stunting are problems that are affecting the people, and we took measures aimed at assisting children and families with such problems," Kabanda told the media last week.

By the time they started, they were following up on 4 children that were malnourished in Karambo cell, Gatumba sector, and he says they are now okay, except for one who has not yet stabilised, owing to some underlying condition he suffers from.

He says they are looking at recruiting more people who will play a role in assisting such children and families, and hopes the initiative will be working in the whole district in the future.

N'uwacu tumurere is just part of a bigger program called "Tuzamurane," that also assists large families by lending them money to pay for health insurance in case they are finding challenges related to this issue, in order to clear the bills at once.

Clemence Nyiratuza, a resident of Gitega village in Gatumba sector says she benefited from the program, as she was taught how to take good care of her child who was being affected by malnutrition.

"They came home and showed us how to prepare a balanced diet, and how to maintain hygiene. I tried to do what they had told me, and little by little, the child started improving," she says.

Such efforts complement those carried out by the Community Health Workers (CHWs) who also generally sensitise families on such topics.

Benjamine Mukunduhirwe, the Vice Mayor in charge of Citizens’ Welfare in Ngororero district says the district has more specific measures to fight the problem of malnutrition and stunting.

Here for example, the district has a program dubbed "N'umusanzu wanjye," where parents above the age of 55 come together and advise younger families on how to avoid domestic violence, which is one of the factors that drive malnutrition.

"They advise and try to follow up on the families so that problems are solved. If a family does not have peace, the children are very likely to be affected by malnutrition," she says.

The district also has "Igitondo cy'isuku," a program aimed at sensitising citizens to maintain hygiene in their communities.

"Every Tuesday and Friday, citizens wake up and do some cleaning in the areas where they work or reside.  We started this program so that we can raise the hygiene levels in our district. This is because poor hygiene can also be a cause of malnutrition," she noted.

She says she is optimistic that with sensitisation and putting efforts in implementing all measures - including those put in place by the government like Girinka, Igikoni cy'umudugudu and home-based Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs), the district can achieve the goal of reducing malnutrition and stunting to 19 percent by 2024.

A parent who benefited from the program to fight against malnutrition and stunting during her interview with Journalists.  Photo by Celine Cyuzuzo (RBC)

Benjamine Mukunduhirwe, the Vice Mayor in charge of Citizens’ Welfare, Ngororero distict, during an interview. She says more measures have been employed in the fight against malnutrition in her district. Photo by Celine Cyuzuzo (RBC)

Parents whose children are beneficiaries of the initiative told the media how Shisha Kibondo porridge helped their children in Ngororero District. Photo by  Celine Cyuzuzo (RBC)