PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV UNITED UNDER A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATION (CBO) TO SCALE UP NUTRITION IN RURAL RWANDA.

USAID-Rwanda Social Marketing
Program (RSMP) supports Community
Based Organizations (CBOs) in
implementing health activities across
sectors in Rwanda.

Donathile KANZIGA is a 56-year-old mother of four children living in the Southern Province of Rwanda. She is the President of a Community Based Organization (CBO) of people living with HIV called ABAHUJE cooperative- committed to ensuring attainment of healthier lives through information and knowledge sharing.
“We initially introduced ourselves to the USAID-Rwanda Social Marketing Program (RSMP) during an outreach session conducted in our community on scaling up nutrition; and ever since, we have learnt to deal with a number of health issues and are able to devise solutions such as preparing balanced diets, doing cooking demonstrations, and establishing kitchen gardens of which we did not previously know”. Donathile explains.
“Previously, at formation stage, we had no clear road map, information and technical knowhow in any health related activity apart from socially acting together and collectively to help each other, not until USAID though RSMP came to our rescue by extending training sessions and financial support upon understanding the CBO’s intent”. Donathile notes.
“In fact, our healthy status demands us to have proper and balanced diets, if we are to live longer, and with USAID’s support, we have ensured this through sharing information and knowledge as well as bartering food among ourselves to allow each one of us attain various nutrition values from a variety of foods necessary for proper feeding for which none of us would grow.” Danathile says.
“Thanks for the support extended to us by the American People through- USAID-Rwanda Social Marketing Program (RSMP); it has enabled us rejuvenate our health from malnutrition related diseases to healthier lives”. She noted.