Parents in Gisagara District have been urged to avoid alcohol, particularly while breastfeeding, as the district grapples with a child stunting rate of 33.2%, above the national average of about 27%.
The call was made on Wednesday, August 19, during a breastfeeding awareness campaign held in Muganza Sector, one of the areas identified as having a high number of children affected by stunting.
Held under the theme “Breastfeeding, the foundation of a child’s development,” the campaign focused on promoting proper breastfeeding and child nutrition as part of efforts to prevent malnutrition and stunted growth.
Gisagara District authorities identified family conflicts and consumption of illicit or poor-quality alcohol among factors that can affect how parents care for and feed their children.
Southern Province Governor Alice Kayitesi urged parents, particularly breastfeeding mothers, to avoid alcohol because of its potential effects on both mothers and their children.
“Alcohol has no benefit, and we have continued to urge people to stop drinking it. It affects both the mother and the breastfeeding child. No mother should drink strong illicit alcohol or traditional brew and then breastfeed because it can have consequences for the child,” Kayitesi said.
She urged families to prioritise children’s wellbeing and resolve conflicts that could undermine their development.
The authorities are targeting a reduction in Rwanda’s national stunting rate to below 15% by 2029.
The campaign also stressed the importance of appropriate breastfeeding, adequate child nutrition, hygiene and creating safe and supportive family environments.
Parents were urged to make child nutrition and care a priority and avoid behaviours that could compromise their own health or that of their children.
