Bahoneza – Kinyarwanda, Rwanda Welfare, Social Welfare, Rwanda People, Nutrition and Diet, Rwanda Habitat, Living in Kigali

Bamwe mu baturage bo mu karere ka Burera bafite imiryango ikennye, igaragara mo ikibazo cy’imirire mibi bari gufashwa, bahabwa amatungo magufi ndetse banasobanurirwa uburyo bagomba kwirinda icyo cyibazo bahinga akarima k’igikoni.

Partners In Health: Inshuti Mu Buzima, ibinyujije muri porogaramu yayo yo kwihaza mu biribwa (Food Security) niyo ifasha iyo miryango y’abatishoboye bari mo abafite ubwandu bw’agakoko gatera SIDA.

Tariki ya 05/06 ndetse na tariki 07/06/2013, imiryango igera kuri 30 yahawe intama indi nayo ihabwa ibikoresho byo kubafasha mu buhinzi kugira ngo bazabone uko bahinga imboga mu mibande ndetse no mu karima k’igikoni.

Nzabonimpa Ezechiel, umwe muri abo baturage, uturuka mu murenge wa Butaro, avuga ko intama yahawe izatuma abona ifumbire yo gufumbiza akarima k’gikoni ke bityo ahangane n’imirire mibi.

Agira ati “Iyi ntama izamfasha ku gafumbire, nyabuneka rwose ngize n’amahirwe yabyara nkoroza n’undi muntu mugenzi wanjye. Kandi nkabona n’imboga n’imirire ikiyongera n’abana bakarya.”

Undi muturage witwa Uwihoreye Sylverie avuga ko Partners In Helth yatumye abasha kurwanya imirire mibi kuburyo ngo yamenye guhinga akarima k’igikoni, aho yeza imboga akazirya ndetse akazigurisha akabasha kubona icyo azirisha.

Akomeza avuga ko kuba yahawe intama bizatuma abona ifumbire nyinshi bitume ahinga n’imboga nyinshi.

Agira ati “Nta fumbire nari mfite ihagije. Nari ndagiye intama y’umuturage, undi wo hirya ngo mbone ifumbire. Ariko Imana ikoresheje abo yaremye bampaye intama kandi nabo ibongerere, ibakubire karindwi.”

Abo baturage bafashijwe bavuga ko ibyo bahawe bazabifata neza kugira ngo bikomeze bigabanye imirire mibi mu miryango yabo.

Kuva mu bukene

Nsabuwera Vincent, ushinzwe porogaramu yo kwihaza mu biribwa muri Partners In Helth, avuga ko abo baturage bafashije baba baragiye kwivuza bikagaragara ko bafite ikibazo cy’imirire mibi.

Akomeza avuga ko Partners In Helth yabegereye ikabafasha, igera no mu miryango yabo kugira ngo barwanye igitera abo baturage uburwayi buturuka ku mirire mibi, aho bigishijwe guhinga imboga, zo muti woroshye wo kurwanya iyo mirire mibi.

Nsabuwera akomeza avuga ko intama bahaye abo baturage ari izo kubafasha muri ubwo buhinzi bwabo ndetse no kubafasha kuva mu bukene.

Agira ati “Izi ntama twabahaye ni ukugira ngo babashe kubona agafumbire, babashe no kongera umusaruro w’ubuhinzi bafite mungo zabo…imizi y’ubukene ni nayo soko y’indwara zose. Umuntu atariye ejo ejobundi indwara izo arizo zose ziramuhirika.”

Akomeza avuga ko iyi progaramu yo gufasha abaturage kurwanya imirire mibi izakomeza, ikagera no mu yindi miryango yo hirya no hino mu karere ka Burera.

Ubuyobozi bw’akarere ka Burera buhora bushishikariza abatuye ako karere kurwanya imirire mibi, aho basabwa kugira akarima k’igikoni mu ngo zabo. Gusa ariko iyo utembereye mu miryango imwe n’imwe yo muri ako karere usanga nta turima tw’igikoni tuharangwa.

Ikibazo cy’imirire mibi cyarahagurukiwe mu rwego rwo kugikemura burundu

Zimwe mu ngamba akarere ka Nyabihu kafashe,harimo guca burundu ikibazo k’imirire mibi ku bana.

Uyu muhigo, ukaba irimo kugenda weswa mu buryo bwiza nk’uko ushinzwe ubuzima Dusenge Pierre yabidutangarije.

Mu mwaka ushize wa 2012, abari bafite ikibazo cy’imirire mibi ikabije barageraga kuri 91. Bitewe n’ingamba zafashwe kugeza ubu, uyu mubare waragabanutse cyane, ku buryo ubwo twaganiraga na Dusenge yadutangarije ko hasigaye abantu 13 gusa. Aba nabo bakaba barimo kwitabwaho cyane ku buryo bazakira vuba.

Zimwe ngamba zakoreshejwe harimo gukurikirana cyane imiryango ifite abana bafite ikibazo cy’imirire mibi,gushishikariza abaturanyi babo kubakamira ndetse n’abayobozi bagenda bagabana abana mu rwego rwo kubakurikirana.

Ku kijyanye no gukurikirana abana,buri muyobozi akaba yarafataga umwana akamwitaho akamukamishiriza cyangwa akagurira n’ababyeyi be itungo rizamufasha mu mirire myiza,akanaha ababyeyi inama zizabafasha kugira ngo umwana ave muri icyo kibazo.

Buri mubyeyi akaba asabwa gukurikirana umwana we kandi agaharanira gutegura indyo yuzuye mu muryango we mu rwego rwo kurwanya imirire mibi.

Ibi bikaba bigarukwaho bitewe n’uko hari abana babonekaho imirire mibi, atari uko ababyeyi babuze ibyujuje intungamubiri babaha, ahubwo ari uko batazi kubitegura. Ababyeyi nk’aba bakaba bagirwa inama zo kwitabira gahunda y’agakono k’umwana, kugira uturima tw’igikoni ndetse no gukurikiza inama z’abajyanama b’ubuzima.

Sarah Liliane Nzakamwita, in charge of social affairs in Rubavu sector in Rubavu district has confirmed that akarima k’igikoni (kitchen garden) program is reducing malnutrition related diseases.

This is because kitchen gardens have made residents access vegetables unlike before where some could buy them and others fail, she explains.

Because vegetables are expensive in the markets and the poor could be limited to include them in their daily meals, it was a big cause of malnutrition among children and the old, residents narrate.

Residents highlighted that malnutrition in some families is caused by couple’s misunderstandings where a man or woman adamantly refuse to buy food so that the other does.

However, akarima k’igikoni (kitchen garden) has become a solution to such problems whereby almost every home has a garden.

Currently, only six children at Muhondo health centre in Rubavu sector are malnourished but the parents are being advised on preparing balanced diet to rectify the problem.

The government of Rwanda is emphasizing vegetable growing through kitchen gardens as a way of eradicating malnutrition.

Malnutrition is a shameful disease and it affects women more than other members of the family, because their time is dedicated to the care of a malnourished patient.

National Women Council representatives in Ngororero district have embarked on helping mothers with malnourished children teaching them how to make kitchen gardens (akarima k’igikoni).

In addition, NWC representatives created a general garden kitchen for vegetables and fruits, to be used in teaching women how to prepare balanced diets and to feed malnourished children.

Ngororero women should be an example to other sectors in eradication of malnutrition, since residents know families with malnutrition problems better than leaders, says Jeanne Nyirasinamenye, a nutritionist at Muhororo Hospital.

The Vice-Mayor for social affairs in Ngororero district, Clothilde Nyiraneza asserts that if all women embrace malnutrition fighting program, it can be eradicated since it comes as a result of less care for children.

Some of the residents reveal that Ngororero district has fertile soils yet it comes among the districts with malnutrition cases.

They confirm that malnutrition is caused by careless parents, that’s why effort is being put on kitchen garden (akarima k’igikoni) and parents evening (akagoroba k’ababyeyi) programs to eradicate it.

A sixty (60) year elderly man François Xavier Habiyakare, a residence of Tabagwe sector- Nyagatare District is reported to provide milk among his neighbours in a move to join the Government in the war against malnutrition; a social development he is proud of.

The old man was given a cow in local health advisors programme called “Gira inka Mujyanama. According to the cooperative Habiyakare was given an expectant cow that is now giving him about 10 litres of milk a day of which he sells 2 litres and the remaining 8 litres is distributed among the neighbours to fight malnutrition and kwashiorkor among the children.

During the celebration of the achievements of the health advisors of Tabagwe sector on the 31stAug.2012, Habiyakare gave them an example of a woman who recently gave birth in their village and he promised to provide them with one litre of milk per day.

Since this cow is milked 5 litres in the morning and 5 in the night, Habiyakare gives the morning milk to children, who bring grasses to the cow and for the evening and the milk in the evening he sells the 2 litres and remains with 3 litres for his family of 8 members.

He is grateful for this cow for providing good health to his family and his neighbours and he was able to get the 24.000francs to pay for mutuelle de santé medical insurance for all members of his family thanks to this cow.

Apart from improving the social welfare of his family members and his neighbours and being able to pay for the medical insurance of his family, Habiyakare says that this cow has boosted his farming production.

With the manure the cow provides, his production has increased tr4emendously as in the garden he used to get 1sack of maize production, he was able to harvest 5 sacks of maize production this time after using manure. Habiyakare intends to take good care of this cow to make other small projects that can develop him.

Although Hindiro is one of 13 sectors that make Ngororero district and the poorest of all, residents come first in fighting against malnutrition.

Athanase Sebyenda in charge of social affairs denote the residents have rose to fight malnutrition through teaching residents how to prepare balanced diet, growing vegetables and not waiting upon help.

According to nutritionists at Kabaya and Muhororo hospitals in Ngororero district, Hindiro has the lowest number of malnourished

Sebyenda asserts this sector had 8 malnourished children who were 8 in the beginning of 2012 but only two are not yet cured while the 6 are in phase one and two and greatly improving as according to the reports of community health workers.

Sebyenda explains that according to how poor Hindiro residents are and how active they embrace different programs meant for them, social and economic development would be attained if other residents follow their example.

He adds that even school children from Hindiro sector perform well academically compared to other sectors of Ngororero district which gives hope for a better future of the place.

Residents in Bugesera district particularly parents are encouraged to feed their children food that contains vitamins for better growth and fighting malnutrition.

This was resolved at Nyamata health centre where parents come for advice on how to prepare balanced diet.

Some of the children brought at the health centre

Jeanne Mukamusoni, a nurse at Nyamata Health Centre says that most residents have not yet understood how to make a balanced diet.

“They think balanced diet is chips, rice, meat and others which they give to their children especially after weaning at a young age,” Mukamusoni narrates.

She adds that after weaning, children are likely to suffer from malnutrition and shows symptoms if they not

Mukamusoni urges parents to give their children balanced diet from the available food in their gardens like Irish potatoes, beans, cassava and others.

Vegetables of every type should be given to children to fight malnutrition, Mukamusoni explains.

Meat is among the foods that build the body but since it cannot be afforded by all parents, but soya, g. nuts and eggs can replace them.

Mukamusoni stresses that soya flour, millet flour; maize flour and wheat make delicious porridge and good for children and grownups in fighting malnutrition.

She advises parents to use family planning and space children because children need enough time of breast milk that has many nutrients.

To maintain hygiene and eat balanced foods, a program to promote health sector was established and measures to prevent malnutrition and poor hygiene related diseases were taken.

Residents have been sensitized to have kitchen gardens and health officials were trained to better protect the lives of residents.

Agakono k’umudugudu program promotes healthy eating in families

A school “agakono k’umudugudu” throughout 473 sectors of Nyabihu was set up where parents learn how to prepare balanced diet, explains Pierre Dusenge in charge of health in Nyabihu district.

Dusenge reveals that 316 kitchen gardens were made to help parents get fresh vegetables rich in vitamins to prepare balanced foods and fight malnutrition.

On children development program, children in 12 sectors of the district are weighed to record the weight and their physical growth is monitored by 1792 community health workers, Dusenge denotes

Pierre Dusenge adds that Directors of health centre and Nyabihu district administration signed performance contracts to care about the health of the residents and to do their work efficiently.

Rwandan government continues to work on improving social standards, having given cows to 41 vulnerable families in Burera district to fight poverty.

Florence Uwambajemariya, Burera vice Mayor for social affairs on April 14^th 2012 reminded beneficiaries that it’s through Girinka program initiated by President Paul Kagame that they are given the cows, advising them to take good care of them.

“We request you to take good care of the cows so that you get milk, manure and fight malnutrition,” adds Uwambajemariya.

87 aged Celine Nyirabutugugu, a beneficiary resident of Cyanika sector swore to take good care of her cow so that she continues to grow old benefiting from it.

Innocent Ngaruyurwanda from Gitovu sector adds: “I must look after my cow very well so that my children and i do not suffer from malnutrition”.

Florence Uwambajemariya reveals that the cows given to residents on April 14th 2012 closes the last phase of Girinka program according to the orders from Ministry of Agriculture that 150 cows be given to the poor in these sectors.

The 41 beneficiary families are from Cyanika, Gitovu, Rugengabari, Gahunga and Kinoni sectors of Burera district.

Wilelimini Nzabahiranya, Head of Rubona Health Centre has revealed that residents of Mpara village, Cyome cell in Gatumba sector have gone far in fighting malnutrition.

Out of 130 children with undernourishment problems, 127 have completely cured from it.

Mpara village community health worker explains that to achieve this big step in fighting malnutrition is because of akarima k’igikoni (kitchen garden) and “agakono k’umwana” programs.

Also, associations were formed to help poor parents. Eugenie Musengimana confessed that she had a malnourished child but with the help of associations, she was able to buy food and milk and now the child is better.

Musengimana is grateful for the advice she got to make agakono k’umwana which helped her to care for the baby better. At first she was giving adult food to her breastfeeding baby.

Telesifori Bihoyiki for social affairs in Gatumba sector told women that eating balanced food is not eating chips and meat as some of them think.

Clothilde Nyiraneza, Vice Mayor for social affairs in Ngororero district thanked Mpara residents for finding solutions to the problems without waiting for help from leaders. Solutions are akarima k’igikoni, agakono k’umwana and credit associations

She requested that these decisions become part of their daily lives and that preparing balanced diet be done weekly instead of monthly.

However, Nyiraneza wishes that good nutrition be accompanied by sanitation for clothes and personal hygiene, young and old. She reminded parents to embrace all government programs of which they are the beneficiaries.

Ministry of health agreed to give parents materials to use in their program of learning how to prepare balanced diet. Materials include big sauce pans to prepare food for many children.

Clothilde Nyiraneza request that residents with cows give milk to the remaining three children with malnutrition problems so that the whole village wave good bye to malnutrition problems.