From Homes to Health: The Hearth session Approach in Action
Urgent actions
Participants proposed several urgent actions to combat child malnutrition and improve household nutrition in the Gakenke district. First, they emphasized strengthening nutrition education for caregivers, focusing on practical skills such as meal planning, food preparation, and proper feeding practices for children under five. They recommended expanding the Positive Deviance Hearth approach to more villages, ensuring every community has trained local volunteers to lead sessions. Promoting kitchen gardens was identified as a priority to increase year-round access to vegetables and diversify diet... Lire pluss. Participants suggested that households be supported with seeds, tools, and training on climate-smart gardening techniques to cope with seasonal changes. They also called for improving hygiene and sanitation, proposing that handwashing stations be established in households and public places, coupled with ongoing community awareness campaigns. Access to clean water was seen as essential, requiring collaboration with local authorities and NGOs to improve water infrastructure. On the economic front, participants recommended income-generating activities for women, such as small livestock rearing or cooperative farming, to boost household food purchasing power. They suggested linking these activities with nutrition education so that increased income translates into better diets. For early detection and treatment of malnutrition, participants urged stronger links between community health workers and households, with regular home visits and growth monitoring. They proposed integrating nutrition checks into existing health outreach programs. Culturally, they highlighted the need to challenge food taboos that limit children’s diets, recommending targeted dialogues with community leaders, elders, and faith-based groups to foster acceptance of more diverse foods. Lire moins



