On Tuesday 11th March 2014, Maternal and Child Health Week Rwanda was launched in Gisagara district. Rwanda is a high performing country on track to reach MDG 4 and 5. This progress made can be attributed to a combination of strategies employed to strengthen the Rwandan health system and make quality of services accessible to a wide population. However, as in most sub-Saharan African countries, Rwanda still bears a heavy burden on high maternal mortality (476/100000 live births), neonatal mortality (27/1000 live births) under 5 mortality (76/1000 live births and infant mortality (50/1000 live births)(DHS 2010). As such, the Ministry of Health is determined to reduce these numbers even further, and achieve the health related Millennium Development goals through the use of high-impact, low cost outreach activities. 

To this end, annual maternal and child health weeks are organised twice a year to deliver an integrated package of cost-effective preventative services to improve maternal and child health. This year, the maternal and child health week focussed on the delivery of nine key interventions: 

Immunisation of children under 2
Deworming of children aged 1-5
Tetanus vaccination for all pregnant women
Provision of iron tables for all pregnant and lactating women 
Vitamin A supplementation and nutrition screening for all under 5’s
HPV immunisation for adolescent girls
Family planning services for women of reproductive age
Social mobilisation and advocacy through health media to promote significance of immunisation, important of ANC, health facility safe delivery practices, exclusive breastfeeding up to six months then to continue BF together with complementary foods up to 2years , heath nutrition and use of long lasting, insecticide-treated mosquito nets. 
The event was attended by Hon. Minister of State Anita Asiimwe, Mayor of Gisagara district Leandre Karekezi, representatives from OneUN Rwanda (WHO, UNICEF and FAO) and Leonie Cuelenaere, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Rwanda. 

In addition to the launch of MCH week, a 4-year program to fight malnutrition supported by the government of Netherlands through UNICEF for $25million, was launched. Leonie Cuelenaere, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Rwanda, emphasised the important of early intervention in fighting child malnutrition by reasserting that ‘what we do in the first 1000 days has an influence on the child’s life’. The OneUN project will be implemented through various strategic partners including WHO, with the aim to reduce stunting of children under-two years old in 25 districts. 

Following the launch, Hon. Minister Anita Asiimwe visited Kansi Health Cetnre located in Gisabara district, where residents have attained 100% subscription for health insurance, and urged officials to maintain the high hygiene standards and spread the word to the surrounding community. The Maternal and Child Health week continued from the 11th – 13th, and showed Rwanda’s continued efforts to effectively target the health issues impacting maternal and child health nationally.

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WHO Representative Dr. Denlanyo Dovlo, FAO Representative Mr. Attaher Maiga and WHO Family Health Program focal point Dr. Maria Mujawamariya Mugabo discuss kitchen gardens for nutrition
WHO Representative Dr. Delanyo Dovlo delivers immunization to child under 2
WHO Representative Dr. Delanyo Dovlo delivers immunization to child under 2
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands Ambassador to Rwanda Leonie Cuelenaere, prepares to give supplement to child under 5
Hon. Minister of State, Anita Asiimwe washes her hands to prepare to give HPV vaccine to adolescent girl. 
Photo Credit: Sheila Mburu/WHO/2014