World Vision has joined forces with Karongi District in a six-month campaign to combat malnutrition through community-driven programmes. The partnership was announced on Saturday during the launch of the Professional Umuganda initiative in Rugabano Sector, marking a significant step toward addressing child stunting and malnutrition in the area.

Gerald Muzungu, Karongi’s interim Mayor, emphasized the collaborative effort under the Jyejuru Kibondo initiative, which focuses on preventive measures. These include community education on healthy diets, promoting nutrient-rich foods, supporting fruit and vegetable farming, improving sanitation and hygiene, and strengthening community-based health services.

"Malnutrition is closely tied to poor sanitation and hygiene. Thanks to World Vision, our community will gain access to clean water, and by promoting better hygiene practices, we can reduce infections that contribute to malnutrition," Muzungu said.

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He further outlined plans to renovate Rugabano Health Center, establish a maternal health center in Rufungo, expand tea cultivation, provide livestock, and support local initiatives such as Igikoni cy’Umudugudu.

Pauline Okumu, National Director of World Vision Rwanda, stressed the importance of regular monitoring in addressing malnutrition. She highlighted the success achieved in Rutsiro District, where significant progress was made in controlling malnutrition within five months.

"Based on our experience in Rutsiro District, we have learned that regular malnutrition screenings are crucial. Together with the district, we launched the Professional Umuganda initiative to address malnutrition. This initiative is deeply engrained with the Rwanda Government’s National strategy and SDGs, to reverse the negative trend," Okumu said.

She reiterated World Vision’s commitment to monitoring and preventive measures, pledging initiatives such as providing clean water to Rugabano Sector and working with partners to support these efforts.

World Vision Rwanda has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) to launch a joint campaign aimed at making a lasting impact on malnutrition in Karongi.

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Assumpta Ingabire, Director General of the NCDA, revealed that malnutrition cases in Rwanda have surged from 6,000 in 2023 to 123,434 in 2024, underscoring the urgency of the issue.

"While the Government of Rwanda remains committed to prioritizing family welfare and nutrition, combating malnutrition requires collaboration with partners like World Vision," Ingabire said.

The government’s comprehensive plan to tackle child stunting includes providing milk to improve child nutrition, monitoring children’s growth monthly using scorecards and length mats, and encouraging parental participation in the Irerero program.

Solange Kayisire, Minister of State for Local Government, called on households to take an active role in combating malnutrition.

"Parents must take a leading role in the fight against malnutrition and stunting. Let’s seize the opportunity to access water and promote hygiene. Remember, these children are the future leaders, army and police officers, governors, and ministers," Kayisire said.

She emphasized that addressing malnutrition is essential for healthier communities, sustainable development, and economic growth.

The 2024 National Family and Nutrition Policy underscores the central role of nutrition in Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation, aligned with Vision 2050. Proper nutrition is critical for preventing malnutrition, boosting immunity, ensuring safer pregnancies, and reducing non-communicable diseases.

The policy highlights the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, as a vital window for supporting cognitive development, academic success, and future economic productivity.

This collaborative initiative between Karongi District and World Vision demonstrates a shared commitment to ensuring a healthier future for Rwanda’s children.

The Professional Umuganda is a structured community service effort to combat child stunting and malnutrition in the District with the goal of enhancing the most vulnerable children’s and women’s health by improving their nutrition status by 2025.

The overall objective of the Professional Umuganda is to "Improve nutritional status of children under five, pregnant and lactating women”. The intention is to reduce stunting and underweight. This is being implemented through rehabilitating malnourished children, prevention activities, and ensuring the sustainability of rehabilitated children via PDH model to attain its objectives in the entire district.

This innovative approach brings together children, parents, local Government officials, health professionals, agricultural experts, the private sector, and community leaders to promote collaborative solutions to tackling malnutrition and stunting among children.