KAMONYI - CARE International has launched a four-year project aimed at further reducing maternal and child mortality rates in rural areas.

The US$1.75m project dubbed ‘Kura Neza’ and sponsored by USAID, will focus on four areas within Kamonyi District.

"The project will promote child nutrition and childhood survival, which includes early child education, health, economic security and protection,” said Jeannette Nduwamariya, the provincial coordinator of CARE International.

Nduwamariya added that the project seeks to empower and support over 38,000 women of reproductive age and children below the age of five, selected from vulnerable families of the community.

Last year, CARE launched the pilot phase of the project, which, in partnership with the community, saw the establishment of day-care and nutritional programs for children below three years.

Clarisse Mukaruhumuriza, a beneficiary, says the day-care programs have impacted on the children’s development and quality of learning at the early stages.

"Besides good feeding, the program has also improved children’s cognitive capacities, which has enabled them to perform better than others in primary school,” Mukaruhumuriza said.

USAID representative, Traore Soukey, urged residents to use the opportunity, to take care of every child as their own for a better future.

Kamonyi vice Mayor, Marie Alice Uwera, stressed that such programs were very important to community development, observing that they had contributed to the reduction of cases of child abuse in the district.

The new program was also commended by officials from the ministries of Health and Education.

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