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<\/a><\/p>\nJames Karuhanga<\/p>\n
27 December 2011<\/p>\n
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Based on the awareness that a proper diet is the foundation of good health, the country is on a crusade to foster better nutrition, especially after improving on the general food security situation.<\/p>\n
Projects such as One Cow per poor family [Gir’inka] project’ and the rolling out of the new ‘One Cup of Milk Per Child’ programme – that targets school-going children to fight malnutrition – are among the key interventions.<\/p>\n
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Fran\u00e7ois Kanimbla, Friday told lawmakers that malnutrition has a bearing to the ‘milk programme and that it was a problem the government was determined to check.<\/p>\n
“There is now going to be a general countrywide campaign to fight malnutrition,” Kanimba told the Chamber of Deputies as he responded to queries related to the revised 2011\/12 budget he presented.<\/p>\n
According to ActionAid, an international anti-poverty agency, Rwanda is the most food secure country in east Africa.<\/p>\n
The minister noted that Rwandan children suffer from poor nutrition not because food is lacking.<\/p>\n
“There are many reasons for this [malnutrition] that people must discuss and a solution be found, because it is not clear how agricultural productivity goes up yet we still have the problem of malnutrition in Rwanda,” Kanimba added.<\/p>\n
“In the coming days, there is going to be a lot of mobilization on how we can fight the issue of malnutrition”.<\/p>\n
Dr. Daphrose Gahakwa, the deputy Director in charge of research at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Monday said crucial research is being conducted to address nutrition issues.<\/p>\n
“We have bio fortified crops such as beans that are rich in iron which cures Anaemia [the most common blood disorder] needed for children and pregnant women, orange fresh sweet potatoes with vitamin A which even people living with HIV\/AIDS can eat,” she said.<\/p>\n
Bio fortification is a method of breeding crops to increase their nutritional value.<\/p>\n
“We also have cassava with vitamin A and maize with amino acids, as well as indigenous vegetables with Beta-carotene”.<\/p>\n
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), foods rich in beta-carotene protect body cells, are a source of vitamin A, enhance the functioning of the immune system and help the reproductive system function properly.<\/p>\n
Food sources of beta-carotene include sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, spinach, turnip greens and collard greens.<\/p>\n
Dr. Gahakwa said the country also has an abundant variety of edible mushrooms which “are a complete food” since they have a combination of the proteins obtained from milk and other foods.<\/p>\n
“There are many other foods in the country and no Rwandan should be suffering from malnutrition.”<\/p>\n
Mindset issues are also being blamed for the malnutrition as some people’s beliefs forbid certain “rich” foods.<\/p>\n
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