{{Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi has launched a nationalwide campaign against malnutrition.}}
The campaign expected to last 1000 days was launched on Saturday in Gakenke District aimed improving maternal and child health in the country.
Dr. Habumuremyi noted, “Families must understand the importance of proper nutrition, appropriate care and feeding practices for children as well as pregnant and breast-feeding mothers.”
During the campaign, families will be encouraged to have ‘kitchen gardens’ on which an assorted food varieties can be grown.
Officials said the figures of malnutrition for children under five remain “high” and a survey conducted in 2010 put the figure at 44%.
Parents have been advised to give their children foritfied food, especially vegetables, fruits and milk, to cushion against diseases that are associated with poor feeding.
Dr Anita Asiimwe, the State minister for primary and public healthcare, said the campaign aims at changing behaviour in families, especially among husbands who seem to leave all duties related to children’s health to their wives.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) country representative, Naola Skinner, stressed that the role of husbands and fathers is extremely important in insuring that their pregnant and breast-fedding mothers and children get the right nutrition during this critical period.
source:{ Newtimes}
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