The National Child Development Agency (NCDA), local leaders from district to provincial level and partners have gathered to discuss measures that could help the country reduce stunting among children from 27% to 15% by 2029. 

On February 26^th, the meeting took place in Northern Province and was attended by the Director General of NCDA, Ingabire Assumpta alongside the Governor of Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde. On March 4^th, the similar meeting was held in Eastern Province, it was attended by DG Ingabire; Chief Gender Monitor, Umutoni Gatsinzi Nadine, the Executive Secretary of the Province, Dr Jeanne Nyirahabimana and other officials. 

On March 18^th, the meeting was also gathered in Southern Province chaired by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolee Uwimana alongside the Governor, Alice Kayitesi and the Deputy Director General for NCDA, Gilbert Munyemana.

In the meetings, NCDA presented each district’s status of stunting against national data that was revealed in the 2015 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS7).

In Southern Province, Minister Uwimana reminded participants that the Government has availed all necessary resources to combat malnutrition and stunting among children. She called on them to integrate the fight against stunting into their performance contracts, urging them to establish a clear accountability mechanism to ensure tangible results. 

Presenting the status in Eastern Province, DG Ingabire emphasized on need for concerted efforts to ensure that interventions around fighting stunting will be effective.

“We still face challenges like lack of follow-up on programmes meant to eliminate stunting, and unawareness among concerned people, if we are to address this issue, we need joint action,” she said.

Organized in partnership with World Vision International Rwanda and Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l'Homme au Rwanda (CLADHO), the meeting will also take place in Western Province.