{"id":120479,"date":"2026-02-24T13:54:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:49:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T14:49:47","slug":"what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates","title":{"rendered":"What next for districts with high stunting rates?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Districts that have recorded persistently high rates of child stunting must intensify targeted interventions, the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) has said, warning that progress remains uneven despite national gains in child nutrition.<\/p>\n

While Rwanda has made strides in reducing malnutrition, stunting remains alarmingly high in several districts. Gicumbi District recorded the highest prevalence at 38.8 per cent, followed by Burera District (37.6 per cent) and Ngororero District (35.8 per cent).<\/p>\n

Community Health Workers take measures of a baby during a campaign on stunting in Nyamasheke<\/p>\n

Other districts with stunting rates above 30 per cent include Rutsiro District (33.8 per cent), Karongi District (33.5 per cent), Gisagara District (33.2 per cent), Rubavu District (33.1 per cent), Nyabihu District (32.7 per cent), Musanze District (31.9 per cent), Kirehe District (31.7 per cent) and Rusizi District (31 per cent).<\/p>\n

According to Gilbert Munyemana, NCDA Deputy Director General, some districts have recorded increases rather than reductions in stunting over the past five years.<\/p>\n

Kicukiro District saw stunting rise from 10.7 per cent in 2020 to 14.3 per cent in 2025. Similar increases were recorded in Gisagara (from 31.4 to 33.2%), Karongi (32.4 to 33.5 %), Rusizi (30.7 to 31 per cent), Gatsibo District (27.5 to 29.4 per cent) and Kirehe (31.3 to 31.7 per cent).<\/p>\n

Other districts, however, have registered notable improvements. Ngororero reduced stunting from 50.5 per cent to 35.8 per cent, while Nyabihu dropped from 46.7 per cent to 32.7 per cent.<\/p>\n

Significant declines were also reported in Ruhango District (38.5 to 22 per cent), Gakenke District (39.1 to 26 per cent) and Nyaruguru District (39.1 to 23.9 per cent).<\/p>\n

Speaking during a hybrid meeting on stunting and malnutrition in the Northern Province on Friday, February 20, Munyemana said food availability, accessibility and affordability remain the main drivers of stunting.<\/p>\n

\u201cTransforming the food system to ensure access to affordable and nutritious food requires strong policies and scaled-up household crop and livestock production, especially animal-source foods such as eggs and fish powder,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that improving access to affordable animal feed, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening food fortification and biofortification efforts are equally critical.<\/p>\n

WASH remains a key factor<\/b><\/p>\n

The NCDA also underscored the role of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in tackling chronic undernutrition.<\/p>\n

\u201cLimited access to safe water increases the risk of waterborne diseases and infections that reduce nutrient absorption and impair child growth,\u201d Munyemana said, stressing the need to promote hygiene practices at household level and expand access to clean drinking water.<\/p>\n

Women feed and breastfeed their babies during a campaign for fighting stunting in Nyamasheke District. Photos by Craish BAHIZI<\/p>\n

In the Northern Province, the Mutobo water treatment plant is expected to supply 55,000 cubic metres of clean water per day to Musanze and Burera districts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWASH programmes should be strengthened in schools, health centres, ECD centres, markets and other public spaces to reduce infection-related growth faltering,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Peer learning and local action<\/b><\/p>\n

Districts were urged to promote peer learning and tailor responses to local realities.<\/p>\n

\u201cDistrict-specific analysis is essential to identify the root causes of stunting, scale up what works and ensure successful interventions are replicated,\u201d Munyemana said.<\/p>\n

Maurice Mugabowagahunde, Governor of Northern Province, highlighted the importance of grassroots engagement through the Duhurire mu Isibo initiative, which began in Gicumbi and has since expanded to other districts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must know these children, understand their family challenges and act urgently. This approach worked in Ruhango, and districts are now undertaking study tours to learn from best practices,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The government is also working with partners such as World Vision Rwanda to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.<\/p>\n

Innocent Mutabaruka, World Vision Rwanda\u2019s Integrated Programmes Director, stressed the importance of prevention through antenatal care, exclusive breastfeeding, malnutrition screening and community engagement, including faith-based organisations.<\/p>\n

He cited the Enough campaign, a three-year, $2 million initiative aimed at ensuring every Rwandan child receives adequate nutrition.<\/p>\n

Nutrition gaps persist<\/b><\/p>\n

Addressing a recent leadership retreat in Karongi, Marie Solange Kayisire, State Minister in the Ministry of Local Government, urged leaders to act decisively.<\/p>\n

\u201cA country cannot achieve sustainable development while children are still stunted,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The retreat came as Karongi\u2019s stunting rate stands at 33 per cent, while Rwanda\u2019s second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) targets a reduction to at least 15 per cent by 2029.<\/p>\n

In 2025 alone, districts identified about 11,000 children affected by stunting and malnutrition, with 8,000 rehabilitated by May.<\/p>\n

Pascasie Umuhoza, Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs in Karongi, emphasised the need to strengthen food security through improved agriculture and address harmful alcohol consumption that affects young children.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are promoting behaviour change education to ensure age-appropriate balanced diets,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She also encouraged peer learning among parents and holistic services in ECD centres.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter community health workers screen children, parents are taught to prepare balanced meals at the village kitchen. Malnourished children are also fed these nutritious meals,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Emmanuel Safari, Executive Secretary of CLADHO, stressed the need to address family conflicts, which are linked to stunting.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo ensure children\u2019s rights, stunting must be eliminated. The new generation must be cared for. Eliminating stunting will improve children\u2019s learning capabilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Marie Therese Uwamahoro, Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs in Gakenke District, highlighted monthly screening and parent groups.<\/p>\n

\u201cGroups of around 20 parents meet weekly to discuss child development and family issues with a facilitator,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Console\u0301e Uwimana, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, said poor diets, hygiene and sanitation remain major challenges.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly 43 per cent of children aged six to 24 months receive a balanced diet, while consumption of animal-source foods remains very low,\u201d she said, noting that just 18 per cent of children consume meat, 7 per cent eggs and 2.4 per cent milk products.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy closing these gaps, we can achieve the national target of reducing stunting to 15 per cent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. Districts that have recorded persistently high rates of child stunting must intensify targeted interventions, the National Child Development Agency (NCDA) has said, warning that progress remains uneven despite national gains in child nutrition. While Rwanda has made strides in reducing malnutrition, stunting remains alarmingly high in several districts. Gicumbi District recorded the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":120477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,30],"tags":[5820,4392,2060,758,3862],"class_list":["post-120479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-child-health","tag-food-security","tag-nutrition","tag-rwanda","tag-stunting"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat next for districts with high stunting rates? - Rwanda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Districts that have recorded persistently high rates of child stunting must intensify targeted interventions, the Nation ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What next for districts with high stunting rates?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Districts that have recorded persistently high rates of child stunting must intensify targeted interventions, the Nation ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rwanda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T13:54:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-24T14:49:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2026\/02\/sm_1771931883.616957.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"666\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"What next for districts with high stunting rates?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-24T13:54:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-24T14:49:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates\"},\"wordCount\":955,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2026\/02\/sm_1771931883.616957.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"child health\",\"Food Security\",\"Nutrition\",\"Rwanda\",\"Stunting\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"Community\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/what-next-for-districts-with-high-stunting-rates\",\"name\":\"What next for districts with high stunting rates? 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