Through the Professional Umuganda, Caritas Byumba, in collaboration with World Vision Rwanda and Gicumbi District, is taking community action to prevent malnutrition and promote the healthy growth and development of children under 5 across all sectors of Gicumbi District.

Following the three-day Positive Deviance Hearth (PDH) Model Approach training held from 26–28 August 2026 at Centre d’Accueil FIAT, bringing together stakeholders from the District, hospital, health centres and sector levels, the approach is now being translated into practical action within communities.

One of the key actions is the screening of children under 5 years across all sectors of Gicumbi. Particularly done by health actors especially CHWs; Community Health Workers, The screening enables communities and health actors to identify children with nutrition, health or developmental concerns at an early stage and take appropriate action through counselling, follow up, referral, rehabilitation or other needed support.

This is an important step in preventing malnutrition because early identification allows families and service providers to respond before nutrition and health challenges become more serious. It also creates an opportunity to link children and families with available health, nutrition and rehabilitation services, while strengthening community follow up.

Through nutrition dialogues, families, caregivers and community actors are encouraged to put knowledge into practice by providing children with diverse and nutritious foods, monitoring their growth, seeking care early when concerns are identified, following referrals and maintaining good hygiene and sanitation practices.

The expansion of this initiative from the initial focus in Kageyo and Mutete to all sectors of Gicumbi demonstrates a shared commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind. By bringing screening, nutrition education, early identification and referral closer to communities, the Professional Umuganda is strengthening collective action against malnutrition and supporting every child to grow healthy, develop well.