Muvumba Area Program

Muvumba is in the Nyagatare district in the Eastern province of Rwanda, bordering Uganda and Tanzania. With a population of 653,861, almost half in the district experiences poverty with close to a quarter living in extreme poverty. Children suffer from malnourishment and disease, educational hinderances, and transgressions in child protection.

The ratio between health professionals and the population is very low. The prevalence of stunting among children under 5 remains a critical public health issue in the area. Many people utilize insufficient water sources and sanitation facilities, both at home and in schools. 

The lack of pre-primary facilities, congestion of children in primary schools, and insufficient teacher competencies affect the quality of learning. As a result, literacy and completion rates of children are low and dropout rates are high. 

Parents possess poor attitudes and understanding in the importance of child protection, increasing the presence of sexual abuse, violence, early marriage, and unwanted pregnancy among children. Some children’s births are not legally registered.

Considering Muvumba’s many challenges, the community has the potential for development to boost local economy and income. The land and rainfall are beneficial for agricultural development, emerging small and medium businesses, financial institutions and saving groups, and cross border trade.

Health, education, and child protection have been identified as areas requiring attention in Muvumba. Several socio-economic factors contribute to the occurrence of these challenges including the low ratio of healthcare professionals to inhabitants, insufficient water systems, malnutrition and stunting among children, precarious school environments, and parental ignorance towards child protection.

Health

There is only one hospital catering to the entire Nyagatare District. The ratio of medical doctor per population is 1/8,294 people, nurse per population is 1/1,420, and midwives per population is 1/2,889.

Malnutrition is a major public health problem, contributing either directly or indirectly to major causes of death in children. 37% of children under 5 are stunted, which is another critical public health issue.

46% of inhabitants use an insufficient water source, 23% of households are within a 15-minute walking distance to an improved water source, and 85% use insufficient latrines. Many people do not practice proper handwashing before meals, leading to waterborne diseases like diarrhea. There is a big problem of water accessibility leaving many to fetch dam water and with most people being cattle breeders, the need for water for livestock is significant.

Education

There are major factors hindering good education for children in the area. There is only one pre-primary school, which does not have a playground facility or library, and is not connected to a water or electricity supply. They also lack improved latrines, but primary and secondary schools suffer the same.

Poor learning conditions are fueled by a 57:1 ratio of students to teachers. In addition to school infrastructure, the quality of education is still poor, and the community requires support to boost children’s performance and reduce the number of dropouts.

Child Protection & Participation

The poverty level in the district is 44% of the total population, with 19% living in extreme poverty. Children in Muvumba are exposed to food insecurity, diseases, and other harmful behaviours such as early marriage and unwanted pregnancy in girls.

Caregivers are generally unaware of child rights and protection, and there is a misconception around violence against children. There is also a low level of child participation in decisions that affect them. Coupled with economic and health factors already mentioned, the effects of these issues on the lives of people–especially children–are disastrous.

Health

To improve the health status of children, World Vision will:

• Focus on improving the nutritional status of children under 5 years by educating the community on dietary and complementary feeding practices.
• Educate the community to improve knowledge, attitude, and practices related to hygiene and sanitation among community members.
• Work to ensure that children, families, and the community are enjoying clean and safe water from sustainable and potable sources.

Education

For children to benefit from easy access to sufficient infrastructure and a quality education, World Vision will:

• Increase quality of education and school retention through life and vocational skills training among children, along with the Unlock Literacy Program in grades 1 through 3.
• Collaborate with school committees to promote early childhood development centres and improve performance in primary schools.
• Collaborate with the education board to promote access to basic education for all children, allow continuous capacity building for teachers, and enhance access to quality curriculum and learning materials. 

Child Protection & Participation

To provide safe, conducive, and protective environments for children, World Vision will:

• Address issues related to childcare, child rights, and protecting children from abuse through community engagement and child protection programs.
• Promote and set a reporting and referral mechanism for community members to report cases of abuse and child rights violations.
• Enhance children’s capacity to advocate for their rights and combating child abuse in the area.