Leaders in Rwanda’s Northern Province have pledged to step up the fight against child stunting by focusing on household-level solutions that directly address malnutrition and poverty.
The commitment was made during a provincial coordination meeting in Musanze District, attended by Minister of Local Government Dominique Habimana, provincial officials, and local leaders. Stunting remains a key concern, with one in four children in the province affected.
Minister Habimana urged leaders to act urgently, saying the health of children today defines Rwanda’s future.
“Do everything possible. Treat this issue as urgent and special, because these children are Rwanda’s tomorrow,” he told the gathering.
Leaders agreed that poverty is a major driver of stunting. More than 130,000 households in the province still need support to rise from poverty, while 3.2% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Habimana challenged officials to aim for full eradication, not just reduction.
“Do not settle for lowering poverty from 3% to 2% or 1%. The goal is total eradication,” he said.
Governor Maurice Mugabowagahune outlined key challenges, including poor sanitation, school dropouts, and malnutrition, stressing that solutions must align with the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).
Local leaders committed to identifying each child affected by stunting rather than relying only on statistics.
“We must know exactly who these children are and their family situations. That way, when partners step in to help, support can be directed effectively,” one sector executive secretary explained.
The new approach is expected to strengthen collaboration with partners and ensure vulnerable families receive targeted support. Leaders concluded that addressing poverty, nutrition, and education together will be essential to protecting children and building healthier communities in the Northern Province.
