A team of officials from the Dutch embassy in Kigali yesterday visited several areas of Musanze District to assess the economic development and priority areas that may need support. Local leaders briefed the officials on the district’s development programmes, budget, opportunities, planning, the infrastructural development and what has been achieved in poverty reduction in rural communities. The delegation toured Ruhengeri Hospital to witness programmes for elimination of malnutrition as well as a food storage facility. Jolke Oppewal, Head of Cooperation, said the visit would help them understand how the district perceives the Netherlands’ contribution to development. He revealed that the Netherlands has unveiled a new four-year plan of supporting Rwanda’s development initiatives and that programmes that tackle malnutrition would be considered. “Food security is a priority in our programmes; this requires a multi-sectoral approach, as Rwanda is doing, especially access to market, investment in energy for food processing, help people to make an income. It’s about value adding and more income,” he said. According to a recent demographic survey, malnutrition fell from 52 to 44 percent.
