Improving Mother and Child Nutrition in Rwanda

In the village of Nyarugenge district in Rwanda, Edisa Mukantabana’s daughter Briante Ela Umukundwa just turned three months and 15 days. Edisa welcomed her newborn into the world under challenging circumstances. Born prematurely at  eight months, Ela weighed just under 4 pounds, a weight that worried the doctors and family alike.

“I was nervous when Ela was born with low birth weight,” Edisa says. “Two days later, the doctors told me to go home and come back after two weeks, to check on the baby’s growth. At home, I made sure I cared for and breastfed my baby as much as I could.  When I went back to the hospital after the two weeks, doctors found that the child had gained 1/2 a pound. They explained to me that it was a good progress, and encouraged me to keep caring for her,” Edisa adds. 

Edisa holds her baby, Ela Briante, at their home in Nyarugenge district, Rwanda.

Photo by Fred Hirwa/CRS

Edisa’s unwavering determination and love for her children became the cornerstone of Ela’s miraculous journey to health. Edisa, already experienced in motherhood, knew that Ela needed more than just medical attention; she needed the nourishment and strength that only a mother's love and milk could provide. With a new focus on her own health and nutrition, Edisa embarked on a journey to ensure her body could produce the rich, nourishing milk Ela desperately needed.

Edisa was trained to become a model parent by the U.S. Agency for International Development-funded Inclusive Nutrition and Early Childhood Development project, known locally as USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose. She helps other parents improve nutrition. She knew it was the critical time to enhance her nutrition as a breastfeeding mother to save her daughter’s health.

“I already had knowledge about nutrition for breastfeeding mothers. As a model parent, I previously supported other mothers to improve their nutrition and it was time for self-care.” Edisa said. 

Each day, Edisa carefully prepared a nutritious meal in which she incorporated a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, like spinach and carrots, each adding vital nutrients to her diet, providing essential vitamins and a well-rounded intake of calcium.

Her dedication continued and Edisa made sure to stay hydrated, drinking milk and porridge and taking time to rest whenever possible, knowing that her body needed to recover from childbirth and gain strength to care for Ela, and continue to breastfeed her to gain enough weight.

As the weeks passed, Ela began to gain weight steadily. Every ounce Ela gained was a testament to Edisa’s unwavering dedication and love.

“The most important lesson I learned from the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose is exclusive and frequent breastfeeding for a baby up to six months,” Edisa says. “For Ela’s elder siblings, that was not the case. At four months, I was already giving them water and other drinks.”

At the three-month follow-up, Edisa says the community health workers were astonished by Ela’s transformation. Not only had she reached a healthy weight for her age, but she also showed signs of thriving. Edisa says Ela’s progress was nothing short of remarkable, and that her heart was filled with immense pride and relief.

Edisa’s commitment to her own health directly influenced Ela’s recovery and growth. Edisa continues to attend monthly sessions of village nutrition schools, an opportunity for her to discuss with fellow mothers about child- and mother-nutrition.

“Mothers learn a lot from the village nutrition school,” Edisa says. “I encourage them to exclusively breastfeed and discuss with them child nutrition so that they can apply the same at home.”

USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose is a five-year USAID-funded program to improve the health, functioning, nutritional status, and well-being of women of reproductive age and children under six years of age. It emphasizes the first 1,000-days of a child’s life and strengthens the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities and improve positive parenting and child development. The program is implemented by a consortium led by Catholic Relief Services in 10 districts of Rwanda.

Through community health workers, the USAID Gikuriro Kuri Bose currently reaches more than 160,000+ mothers, educated on exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months, complementary feeding for children above six months, hygiene, and good breastfeeding practices.

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