The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion has called on districts with high rates of child malnutrition to take urgent action, highlighting Gisagara, Nyamagabe, and Kamonyi as the most affected areas in Rwanda’s Southern Province.
Speaking at a multi-stakeholder meeting on stunting and malnutrition, Minister Consolée Uwimana warned that poor nutrition is not just a health issue—it threatens children’s development and the country’s future. She urged local leaders to treat the fight against malnutrition as a shared responsibility.
“Fighting stunting and malnutrition is not the duty of one officer alone—it is the responsibility of every leader. It must become a collective priority,” Minister Uwimana said.
Evariste Murwanashyaka, coordinator at CLADHO and government inspector, pointed to limited knowledge among parents as a key factor. “Some families do not know how to prepare balanced diets for their children,” he said.
District leaders in the most affected areas pledged targeted interventions. Gisagara Mayor Jérôme Rutaburingoga said authorities have mapped households affected by malnutrition to provide focused support.
“We have identified all families facing malnutrition so that we can intervene effectively,” he said.
Kamonyi District Mayor Dr. Sylvère Nahayo added that intensified efforts will be applied to reduce the prevalence visibly. “It is a real challenge, but through joint action, we are committed to bringing the numbers down,” he said.
National data shows progress: stunting has declined from 33% in 2015–2020 to 27% between 2020 and 2025. Yet, Southern Province continues to bear a high burden, with many affected children born to teenage mothers.
Gisagara currently has the highest prevalence of stunting, while Ruhango stands out for progress, reducing its rate by 16%. Officials stressed that sustained, coordinated interventions will be crucial to ensure all children have access to proper nutrition.
“Malnutrition is not just a statistic; it represents real children whose potential we must protect,” Minister Uwimana said, calling on districts to learn from successful models and intensify efforts to reverse the trend.
