This is how Gisagara residents have reduced malnutrition-related sicknesses in so short a time

The recent Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV4), listed Gisagara district among three poorest districts in the country dogged by malnutrition jeopardizing children’ growth.

The survey indicated that 38% of children experienced stunted growth over malnutrition in 2014/2015, down from 51% in 2005.

The ratings prompted President Paul Kagame to request local leaders and other stakeholders to address the issue since all requirements to combat malnutrition are available.

And action has been taken.

Through community health volunteers, Gisagara district crafted special measures to address malnutrition where children suffering from Kwashiorkor and other malnutrition related diseases received care until they recovered.

The programs of; village kitchen garden, household kitchen backyard garden and a 12-day training initiative for parents on preparing dietary meals, including proper portions of milk, were all summoned into the equation of fighting malnutrition among children.

The representative of 90 community health volunteers in Gikonko sector, Celestin Musoni says that kids between 6 and 59 months are tested and those found to be suffering from malnutrition provided with special health care.

“After identifying children suffering from malnutrition, we delegate a parent to look over the child every day. We also teach parents to prepare balanced diet through the school called ‘Agakono k’umwana’ (small casserole for a child)” he said.

Supporting parents are selected from those that have experienced similar cases of child malnutrition-related diseases but have been trained and overcome the problem.
Musoni added that another intervention is about neighboring households committing to provide, for free, milk on a daily basis for a child suffering from malnutrition until he/she regains normalcy.

The sector also a program of supporting households with goats’ donations, rabbits, chickens and improved seeds.

The officer in charge of nutrition at Gikonko Health Center, Ayinkamiye Donatha says that the initiatives have played a role in the reduction of malnutrition rates, dropping from 3 % to 0.5, the number of children suffering from Kwashiorkor reducing from 50 to 18 children.

Gikonko sector comprises of four cells and 30 villages. Community health volunteers say some villages have completely eliminated malnutrition-related diseases.