Silver Karumba is the Country Representative for GAIN in Rwanda. In an exclusive interview with The New Times, he discussed GAIN's role working closely with the government and contributing to the fight against malnutrition in the country.

Excerpts:

Tell us about GAIN?

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the United Nations in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with governments, businesses and civil society, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver healthier diets for all people, especially the most vulnerable.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has offices and programs in countries with high levels of malnutrition: Bangladesh, Benin, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Specifically, this year in Rwanda, we are working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), other Social Cluster Ministries, and the Private Sector to ensure national strategies and policies are nutrition sensitive and food systems transformation frameworks are strengthened.

What is malnutrition and what are its different forms?

Malnutrition is a condition that occurs when a person’s diet lacks the proper nutrients, either because they are not consuming enough food (undernutrition) or are eating too much of the wrong kinds of food (overnutrition). It includes deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and nutrients. The condition can lead to various health problems, affecting growth, development, and overall body function.

Malnutrition can be categorized into: