Rwanda has launched a nationwide campaign from January 13 to 17, 2025, dedicated to improving maternal and child health. This year’s theme, “End Child Stunting: Focus on Maternal Health, Child and Adolescent Well-being, Nutrition, Hygiene, and Full Immunization for Children,” highlights the country’s commitment to combating stunting and enhancing the quality of health services.
Organized by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the week aims to promote better health practices for mothers and children while addressing pressing health challenges. The campaign will include a variety of health-focused activities across the country, ensuring the participation of both healthcare professionals and communities.
The campaign emphasizes critical health actions such as preventing malaria by encouraging families to adopt preventive measures. Pregnant women are urged to attend eight prenatal visits, and safe deliveries under the supervision of skilled healthcare providers are being promoted. Access to family planning and reproductive health services is also a key focus, alongside maintaining proper hygiene and distributing deworming tablets to both children and adults.
Mothers are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed their children for the first six months, while parents are being educated on the importance of providing balanced nutrition to their families. Full immunization of children is a priority, with efforts to ensure they receive all required vaccines to protect them from preventable diseases.
The campaign also calls for enhanced community engagement to tackle the underlying causes of child stunting and maternal health challenges. The Ministry of Health encourages families to take full advantage of the services provided during this period.
This initiative reflects Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to achieve universal health coverage and improve the lives of its citizens through preventive healthcare. As communities across the nation participate in these activities, the government hopes to inspire long-term behavioral changes that contribute to better health outcomes.
For more information, visit RBC or contact the health hotline at 114.