The Ministry of Health through Rwanda Biomedical Centre and its partners launched a week-long campaign that aligns with national priorities, which emphasize the urgent need to reduce stunting among children under five through enhanced community-based intervention.
Rwanda has made significant progress in improving maternal and child health (MCH). However, challenges persist, as evidenced by the 2020 Demographic Health Survey that shows Neonatal mortality reached 19 per 1,000 live births, Under-five mortality are 45 per 1,000 live births, Maternal mortality reached 203 per 100,000 live births, High stunting rate among children under five at 33%, Anemia prevalence 13.1% in women of reproductive age. Additional challenges include teenage pregnancies (5.2%), 13.6% unmet need for family planning.
To address these challenges within this week, Dr Albert Tuyishime, Head of Institute of HIV/AIDS Disease Prevention and Control Department at Rwanda Biomedical Centre speaking during the launch event, calls up on the general public to adhere to this week’s service through outreaches.
“We want to tell the citizens in the community to make the good use of the maternal and child health week by attending the decentralized services on their doorsteps including Vitamin A supplementation for children under five, Deworming for children and adults, Malnutrition screening, Family planning services, Identify and vaccinate children who missed routine immunizations, Non-Communicable Diseases screening and Malaria Prevention.” Noted Dr Tuyishime.
To achieve the mothers and children health wellbeing need a collective approach implemented by all stakeholders from the government institutions, developments partners, civil society organizations, private sector and individuals on the family level.
Together, we want to create a reality where every mother in Rwanda looks forward to childbirth with joy – not fear – and every child gets the healthy start in life that they deserve. (End)