Rwanda in fresh campaign to reduce child stunting
The Rwandan Ministry of Health has announced a two-year campaign aimed at reducing child stunting to 19 percent among children below five years by the end of 2024 from the current 33 percent.
"This plan will focus more on the use of community health workers for monitoring and the provision of needed essential nutrients to address the stalled fight against stunting," the ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
The campaign was launched as part of the ongoing Maternal and Child Health Week.
Efforts will be made to improve antenatal care attendance, revitalize nutrition centers and ensure that children have access to bio-fortified products and animal-sourced proteins, according to the plan.
Other interventions it highlighted include distribution of chickens for eggs production to low-income families, sustainable rearing of small livestock to address food insecurity as well as awareness campaigns on the importance of proper nutrition.
The ministry and its partners will also scale up the production and consumption of bio-fortified products, including iron-rich beans and orange-flesh potatoes, to provide essential nutrients to children.
It called for a collective effort involving local leaders at different levels, health centers and families to ensure that no child suffers from stunting.
