One of the objectives of Girinka, government-backed scheme introduced about 10 years ago, is to fight malnutrition among rural households through provision of milk. This and other similar interventions have contributed greatly to efforts geared at reducing malnutrition in the country, particularly among children. In particular, these initiatives have helped reduce malnutrition to 36.7 per cent, according to the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda 2015 statistics.

However, this also clearly shows that the fight is not yet won, which calls for scaling up of efforts to eradicate malnutrition that is exposing thousands of children to other health risks, like kwashiorkor.

Malnutrition impairs a child’s growth and affects their mental capability and performance in school.

That’s why every Rwandan should take it as their patriotic duty to contribute toward efforts to promote food security and eradicate malnutrition, particularly among children.

While such support as the one recently announced by Stop Hunger Now (SHN), an international organisation that co-ordinates distribution of food and other life-saving support globally, is certainly welcome, it’s not a sustainable solution to the challenge. As a country that seeks self-reliance, we shouldn’t sit back and wait for well-wishers’ support to come forth.

Instead, the people of Rwanda must make the fight to end food insecurity and malnutrition a top priority.

Otherwise, the country would be affected if its citizens are undernourished and hungry.

Indeed, as we forge partnerships with different partners to boost food security, the ultimate goal should be sustainable food production to avoid falling into a dependency cycle.

Children represent the future and so we cannot afford to delegate our duty to feed and nurture them to anyone else. It’s our responsibility as a people to ensure that every child in Rwanda has enough to eat for proper growth to give them a proper head start in life.

This would also help the country achieve Goal Number 2 under the Global Goals framework (Sustainable Development Goals), which seeks to end hunger in the next 15 years.