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

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.

Six (6) months old child is supposed to have other foods to supplement breast milk and keep breast feeding up until 2 years of age and this is of much importance to health of a child, leading it to good growth and development.

Baby foods and breast milk makes a child have all body nutrients to grow well an d for a good strategy, a parent must think of what kind of foods that are good for the baby, how many times they are given in a day, how the baby is fed, how much the baby consumed, the baby’s courage to be fed and most importantly, the hygiene and overall sanitation.

Baby food should have all dietary nutrients like body building food which includes beans, peas, ground nuts, soya, milk, fish, eggs, meat, and many others. There should also be food that gives strength to the child like rice, wheat, sorghum, maize, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, yams, and many others. A child also should be given vegetables and fruits of all kinds.

As the ministry of health states, every child since birth to 5 years of age should be followed closely by measuring monthly weight and be followed by an experienced doctor to see if the child is growing well and a parent should seek for medical advice if the baby weight is not increasing.

The Kirehe Community Based Watershed Management Project (KWAMP) with the support of Kirehe district have given out 60 cows to Rwandans in Nyamugari sector, who have been expelled  from Tanzania , the  support was on  1^st.Aug.2012.

These Rwandans who were sent away from Tanzania are presently residents of Nyamugari sector in Kirehe, according to the vice mayor for social affairs in the area Jacqueline Murekatete.

They were asked to take good care of these cows and she reminded them that if these cows reproduce, they will be able to get milk for their families, get school fees and medical insurances for their families and in improving their social welfares.

Gasasira Janvier the coordinator of KWAMP asked those who were given cows to feed them well for better milk production and they appreciated said that they lost their cattle in Tanzania and now they back to becoming farmers which will improve their social lives as Marie Mukagashugi who resides in Bukinanyana village  happily confirmed.

André Kagabo who is in charge of Girinka program on the National level said that they have distributed more than 133,000 cows to the people in this program in the whole country and in Kirehe district only about 7,091 cows were given.

Cows that were given to these Rwandans returnees are of Jersey breed from South Africa and one cow is worth Rwf1.2million and about 300 goats to provide milk were also brought with these cows to Kirehe district.

Some of the vulnerable families in Muyira sector have been  given cows in a way of helping them fight diseases resulting from  poor diets, the help also aims at providing  manure for boosting farming; the event was on 2^nd August 2012

The cows that were given to people were 31 and were given by those who decided to return a favour to the president of the republic who gave them cows by giving to their neighbours in Girinka program after theirs reproduced.

Marie Igenukwayo who gave a cow to her neighbour said that Girinka program gives people hope to move towards vision 2020 where everyone will be having a cow and no one will be affected by poor eating habits.

“I have given this cow with much happiness and I want my neighbour to have milk for his family and manure for his farming to promote his social welfare.” Marie Igenukwayo explained.

Specoise Mukantabana who resides in Nyundo cell in Muyira sector who was given a cow said “I thank the leaders of this country who always think about their subjects’ development because if it wasn’t like that, I wouldn’t be called a farmer all my life as I do not even have a goat of my own.”

These cows will promote their lives by getting milk, manure for their farms and they were warned not to sell these cows or neglecting them which would be fatal as Clement Gasore the executive secretary of Muyira sector said.

Human bodies need Milk as a drink and food because one can survive and stay healthy on it alone, according to health experts.

This was revealed by Mrs. Ancilla Kaneza, worker in Proxivet, while talking to Kabuga primary school pupils during the event to celebrate world milk day.

Mrs. Ancilla Kaneza talking to the pupils

After children song that said: “A child who drinks milk is identified by his fatness and a healthy body,” Mrs. Kaneza asked children the importance of milk which they said is a healthy drink and fights malnutrition.

Mrs. Kaneza asserts that milk contains protein, sugar and fat that build the body and vitamins that protect the body from diseases.

Also, calcium and vitamin D found in milk give the body energy. Studies show that taking three glasses of milk a day prevents breast cancer.

As a way of encouraging children to like milk, Mrs. Kaneza said: “A child who drinks milk rarely gets sick, performs better academically and will become rich in future.”

“If your parents do not have cows, tell them to buy you milk instead of alcohol or porridge after selling rabbits. But if your parents have cows, tell them to give you milk and sell the remaining milk,” Mrs. Kaneza tells children.

Burera district denounced that measures to fight malnutrition have been taken and in two years to come it will be history.

During the security meeting on March 26^th 2012, Mayor Samuel Sembagare disclosed that social affairs officials and local leadership will combine efforts to fight against malnutrition in the district.

Sembagare explains that malnutrition cases among children in this area are a result of parents’ ignorance because Burera has fertile soils for enough crops.

“Parents will be taught how to prepare well balanced food by encouraging them to have kitchen gardens and to give their children milk and eggs,” reveals Samuel Sembagare

He adds that the decisions taken will help eradicate malnutrition; that is through Girinka program where the beneficiaries give heifers to their neighbours so that all get milk and other cow benefits.

It is not right for Burera to have malnutrition problems when it is rich with all crops that could be used in balancing the diet, says Sembagare.

Dr. Tharcisse Mpunga, Butaro Hospital Director in Burera says that 231 children under 5 years and 26 children over 5 years of age have malnutrition problems in this district.   

Milk, fruits and vegetables

Kabgayi Hospital nutritionist has said that residents in Rwanda and other developing countries eat food for satisfaction rather than essential vitamins that the bodies derive from different foods.

Eating big quantities of food than a well balanced diet has been the leading cause of many diseases among which malnutrition is inclusive, asserts Immaculée Nyiravugimana a nutritionist at Kabgayi Hospital.

However, malnutrition is caused by little knowledge on what a well balanced diet is or how to prepare one and poverty to some who cannot afford to get milk, eggs and meat among others.

Residents with malnutrition problems blame it on the poverty saying that balanced diet is for urban people who can afford expensive food stuffs.

Jeanne Mukamana, a mother of five and a resident of Mushishiro sector in Muhanga district lamented: “well balanced diet is for the people in towns. It’s where you can get rice and others but here; it is a matter of getting what satisfies your children”

Sometimes, it becomes necessary that we sell the little milk we get, vegetables and eggs in order to get money for some home necessities, Jeanne Mukamana reveals.

While rural people think that urban fellows are very much informed about eating balanced foods to fight malnutrition, some town dwellers confess to know little or nothing about the issue.

Uwamahoro, Muhanga town resident revealed: “To me a balanced diet is eating well cooked food like chips, meat and other foods that only rich people can afford.”

Controversially, Immaculée Nyiravugimana a nutritionist at Kabgayi Hospital emphasises that eating right does not require one to be rich like how rural people stretch.

« Its only that most residents are ignorant about preparing this important meal. There are few people who cannot afford Indagala yet they equate to eating meat. Even little milk a day helps but these people focus on eating plenty food, » Immaculée Nyiravugimana discloses.

Up to now, there are still malnutrition cases in different villages in Rwanda. In the campaign to fight malnutrition, it is vital that all residents should be sensitised on preparing a well balanced diet for the good health of Rwandese in general.

Clothilde Nyiraneza giving milk and food to children

Ngororero district has urged residents to give milk and balanced diet to their children in order to fight malnutrition.

After representatives from the ministry of agriculture visited Ngororero in malnutrition fighting campaign,the district has gone ahead to create awareness about malnutrition and its consequences.

“Good health is the source of wealth. Feed your children well, with a balanced diet and disease won’t be a threat anymore,” urged Clothilde Nyiraneza, Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Ngororero District.

The ongoing campaign encourages parents to feed children on whole foods like milk, eggs and fruits.

According to a study, milk fights malnutrition because it’s rich in protein, mineral salts, fats, Vitamin A and B12, calcium and iron.

“If milk is not enough, leave it for children because they need it more than the grownups,” advised Nyiraneza.

Nyiraneza called upon families to provide at least one cup of milk to each child every day, because one cup of milk equals to 40% of protein, 35% of calcium, almost 70% of vitamin B12 and 14% of energy.

The programme to promote good health through proper feeding was launched by Prime Minister Pierre Habumuremyi.

Ministry of health, agriculture, Local government and Nongovernmental organizations like UNICEF are partners as well.

Dans son programme de dénouer le problème lié a la sous alimentation, le district de Rusizi a mis sur pied un programme de traite des vaches pour les enfants. Ainsi les ménages possédant des vaches  pourront donner du lait aux enfants des familles qui n’en disposent pas.

La vice maire du district chargée des affaires sociales, Nirere Francoise, déclare que ce programme a le but de résoudre les problèmes de la sous alimentation qui engendrent des maladies.

Madame Nirere ajoute : « Dans chaque cellule, ce programme est envisagé chaque semaine où les familles ayant des vaches pourront offrir du lait aux enfants des ménages qui ne possèdent pas des vaches. Et ceci dans le but de mettre fin aux maladies liées à la sous alimentation ».

Au cours de la réunion qui s’est tenue ce 27 février 2012 réunissant les différents responsables des centres de santé et de nutrition, les autorités chargées des affaires sociales dans les secteurs, les délégués des animateurs de santé dans les centres de santé et le responsable de la nutrition dans l’hôpital du district de Rusizi, une décision unanime a été prise pour que les efforts soient consentis pour résoudre ce problème. Ainsi des écoles de nutrition seront instaurées dans chaque cellule pour aider les parents d’enfants à préparer des aliments équilibrés.

Niyigarura Pelouse, une conseillère dans le secteur de Bweyeye  affirme que des cas de sous alimentation subsistent encore dans cette région. «  Si nous comparons les données que nous avons, sur 2481 enfants que nous avons examiné au début de cette année, 56 enfants présentent des symptômes de sous alimentation » a-t-elle ajoutée.

Les causes de ce problème sont l’extrême pauvreté des parents et d’autres qui n’ont pas ces notions de préparation  des aliments équilibrées et riches en calories.

In abid to solve the problem of malnutrition, a special program of giving children milk once in a week has been introduced in Rusizi district.

In this program, homes with cows will be giving milk to the children from homes that have no cows.

Some of the participants in the campaign

Francoise Nirere, Vice mayor in charge of social affairs in the district says that this program aims at eradicating malnutrition that brings diseases

“There is a plan to give children milk every week in every cell. Homes with cows will be giving milk to children from poor homes This will stop diseases like malnutrition,” adds Nirere.

On February 27^th 2012 during the meeting that gathered health centre directors, leaders in charge of social affairs in cells, community health workers representatives and a nutritionist, a decision was reached to add more effort in malnutrition classes.

The malnutrition lessons takes place in every cell with an aim of teaching parents how to prepare balanced diet in order to fight malnutrition in children.

Pelouse Niyigarura, a health worker in Bweyeye sector in Rusizi confirms this saying that some children are still suffering from malnutrition in different parts of Rwanda.

“Out of two thousand four hundred and eighty one children we have tested in the beginning of this year, fifty six are malnourished,” adds Niyigarura

Among the reasons that cause malnutrition in children are parents who are poor and do not have variety of foods and others have food but do not know how to prepare balanced diets.