Gicumbi: Low parental awareness among causes of child malnutrition and stunting

On Thursday, February 20, 2026, a regional-level consultative meeting was held in Gicumbi District to find sustainable solutions to child malnutrition and stunting. The meeting was attended by various government officials, including the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the leadership of the Northern Province, and development partners such as Cladho and World Vision, all of whom work on child-related issues.

Dr. Emmanuel Safari, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Association for Human Rights (Cladho), stated that parental attitudes are among the factors preventing a reduction in child stunting.

He said:
“The root cause lies in parental attitudes, as well as a lack of monitoring of children’s welfare. If a parent does not understand that a child has rights and should receive a balanced diet, it becomes a serious problem. Instead of feeding the child eggs, vegetables, and other nutritious food, they may sell them at the market. Every parent and citizen should recognize their responsibility toward children. Once mindsets change, everything else will follow.”

Some parents admitted to negligence in child care. They explained that the food that should prevent malnutrition and stunting is often sold to earn money due to poverty, as stated by Icyitegetse Peteronira from Ngondore Cell.

He said:
“Our strategy is to invest more in the food we give to children. For example, we grow vegetables and raise chickens, but due to poverty, we take them to the market to earn money.”

Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Uwimana Consolée, urged local leaders to engage with communities to understand how children are affected by stunting, describing it as a pressing national issue.

She said:
“We need awareness campaigns to teach people to feed children a balanced diet. In our country, food is available; it’s about teaching parents how to prepare it and serve it to children. It’s not necessary to fill the child’s plate; even small portions with essential nutrients help the child grow well.”

Governor of the Northern Province, Mugabowagahunde Maurice, emphasized that leaders must regularly engage with communities, as the issue is deeply rooted in parental mindsets.

He said:
“The most important factor is the role of us as leaders. We want leaders at all levels—from village to province—to recognize this as a serious problem.”

He also added that addressing hygiene issues is crucial because children with intestinal worms cannot grow properly. He stressed the importance of providing basic infrastructure such as clean water, noting:
“We found that access to clean water is one of the main factors helping residents combat poor sanitation.”

A 2025 study by the National Early Childhood Development and Protection Agency revealed that the Northern Province has the highest number of children suffering from malnutrition and stunting. Gicumbi District alone has 35% of children stunted.

The National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) for 2024–2029 highlights that efforts will be strengthened to combat malnutrition, aiming to reduce child stunting nationwide from 33% to 15%.

ABAWEDAWE Immaculee