On Saturday 21st May 2016, The Ministry of Gender and Family promotion in collaboration with New Vision Rwanda organized a special community work activity in Nyamasheke District, with the aim of addressing malnutrition problems in the area, especially among children below five years of age.
Lead by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Dr. Diane Gashumba, different authorities and citizens of Kabengera Sector built five kitchen gardens for families with children affected by malnutrition and planted vegetable and mushroom. There was also a demonstration of the preparation of a balanced diet for the malnourished children which they were fed accompanied with a cup of milk.
The Health Community Workers explained to the Minister and other authorities that they have a program of consulting children to identify malnourished ones and teach parents how to prepare a balanced diet through the village kitchen initiative. However, the HCW mentioned that only a few parents practice what they learn which makes the improvement of children very slow. “In most cases, malnutrition among children is due to their parents’ poor mindset. The food they need to feed their children can be easily found near them but they do not care much about preparing it properly.” One of the HCW said.
On that, Minister Gashumba called upon joint efforts of the parents and local leaders through different structures to tackle and end malnutrition among children. “We cannot make our country proud with malnourished children and this is not one man’s responsibility. We need to keep teaching and cosely follow up on the implementation of the initiatives and Government’s programmes meant to ensure nutritious feeding.” Minister Gashumba noted. She appreciated the good job done by the Health Community Workers and requested the women representatives, youth representatives as well as the local leaders to keep the momentum by visiting every household one by one to ensure every child is well nourished and healthy. Minister Gashumba reminded citizens of Kabengera Sector that ensuring good health of children is part of protecting their rights, which is every Rwandan's responsibility.
During the community work, two families received cows from previous beneficiaries of the Girinka (one cow per poor family) program, 90 families with malnourished children were given a package of nutritious food and cleaning soaps, 43 of them were given pigs to support their well being and the Health Community Workers in each village received saucepans for the village kitchens.
Source: Parents and Leaders urged to join efforts to end malnutrition among children- Nyamasheke District