In Nyamasheke District’s Bushekeri Sector, under the Jyambere AP, World Vision Rwanda and AEE Rwanda in collaboration with Nyamasheke District are addressing child malnutrition using the Positive Deviance Hearth (PDH) model alongside preventive measures. The approach identifies under-five malnourished children through community screenings and enrolls them in a 12-day community-based rehabilitation session. During these sessions, caregivers receive practical training from CHWs and trained volunteers on proper child feeding, hygiene, and sanitation, aiming for a minimum weight gain of 200 grams per child. Beyond physical recovery, the PDH sessions promote lasting behavior change in household nutrition and care practices.

In Bushekeri Sector, the 12-day rehabilitation has been successfully completed. Out of a total of 3,663 children screened, 1,191 malnourished children were identified and attended the Hearth sessions. Following the sessions, 917 children showed improvement in their nutritional status and, along with their caregivers, have transitioned into a critical post-rehabilitation phase. This phase involves home follow-up visits conducted by CHWs and trained volunteers, These visits are focusing on:

• Monitoring the continuity of positive feeding and hygiene practices adopted during the rehabilitation sessions;
• Encouraging and reinforcing the daily application of these practices in the home setting;
• Identifying any gaps or misconceptions in the caregiver’s understanding and providing targeted re-education where necessary;
• Ensuring sustained weight gain and promoting broader behavior change within the family.

Overall, this integrated approach from screening to rehabilitation to home follow-up is a vital component of the Nyamasheke district’s broader nutrition and child protection strategy. It emphasizes not just recovery from malnutrition but also long-term resilience through education, community engagement, behavior change and promoting nutritional sensitive interventions.