Rwanda’s cooking campaign helps combat malnutrition in families

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Jeannette Mukeshimana, 35, is worried about the repercussions malnutrition has had on her family.

Her daughter, Simbi, 5, appears younger than her age.

Ignorant about how to prepare a balanced diet for her children, Mukeshimana, a resident of Nyamagabe district in southern Rwanda, regularly cooked sweet potatoes and cassava with beans, only to see her daughter was stunted because of poor nutrition.

That is when she realized she had to follow different feeding behaviors.

Mukeshimana was visibly anxious while talking to Anadolu Agency about the difficulties in treating her daughter.

But the 35-year-old mother of three wants to do all she can to keep her children healthy.

That is why she has joined a community cooking learning group in her village, where she learns how to cook a balanced meal.

It has been the answer. Learning to cook a balanced meal is no small feat for someone who has seen her child suffer from malnutrition, she said.

As Mukeshimana shares her story, a sign of relief crosses her face -- an expression of excitement, following cooking lessons.

She speaks with a soft voice and a determination to never have any of her children suffer from stunting.

Mukeshimana is just one of a number of women whose feeding behaviors have been changed, after learning to cook healthier foods.

The lessons are conducted by experienced cooks in women groups from demonstration kitchens established at village levels and health centers.

Drocella Mukamusoni, 38, said she acquired knowledge she needed to prepare a balanced meal for her family, thanks to the cooking tips.

Being able to eat a balanced meal may be something many people take for granted but having food without proper knowledge may result in child malnutrition as equally as a lack of eating, according to nutrition experts.

The major remedy for malnutrition is dietary change.

That is why under specific government intervention, demonstration kitchens are established in villages, where women learn ideal preparation techniques and are encouraged to grow green vegetables in “kitchen gardens,” to improve their family feeding.

Under the “How to cook” campaign, demonstration videos and pamphlets are also distributed, detailing the kinds of food children need; how best to prepare them; importance of proper hygiene and exclusive breastfeeding for children under the age of six months.

It is part of a broader goal to fight malnutrition among children.

In particular, a campaign has been launched in 13 districts where malnutrition was found to be higher.

Funded by the World Bank, the Stunting Prevention and Reduction Project running from 2018 to 2023, is implemented by the Rwanda Biomedical Center in collaboration with the National Child Development Agency.

In addition to cooking lessons, highly nutritious flour is given to vulnerable families in those districts.

There are four trained health counselors per village who are responsible for regularly monitoring children’s health and advising parents on proper feeding.

“It is an anti-malnutrition initiative with the attitude that prevention is the best cure,” said Clemence Dusingize, social behavior change communication specialist at the Rwanda Biomedical Center.

The interventions involve providing mothers with knowledge needed to prepare a balanced meal for their children and helping to fight malnutrition in families.

“The key thing we are trying to do is to prevent malnutrition from community and household levels. We are working with districts and it has proved to be successful in terms of behavior change,” said Dusingize.

Interventions under the project have reduced the number of children suffering from malnutrition from 2,100 in July 2020 to roughly 1,450 in March in the 13 districts of operation, according to Dusingize.

Child stunting nationally has been reduced from 38% in 2018 to 33% to date, according to official figures.

Trained health counselors spend time with mothers, and in a few days find the women can prepare healthier meals for their children.

Christine Nizeyimana, a health counselor in Gakenke district, believes the village kitchen has improved children’s health by providing women with knowledge.

A balanced diet contains different kinds of foods in specific quantities and proportions to provide the required calories, proteins, minerals, vitamins and alternative nutrients.

To ensure that improved availability and diversity of food sources translate to better health outcomes for the most vulnerable children requires more than accelerating food production, according to nutritionists.

It requires a change in the way families prepare food for children and understanding the importance of receiving nutritious diets.