18TH APRIL, 2018

Global Citizens’ calls answered with $35 million for Rwanda

Nutrition was in the spotlight at yesterday’s Global Citizen Live concert in London, where host Sandi Toksvig, actor Tracey Ullman and Rwandan Minister Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi took centre stage to announce new funding to help children thrive.

“With support from the UK government, donors, national governments, and Global Citizens just like you, we can make the social injustice of undernutrition a footnote in history,” said Tracey Ullman,  speaking as an ambassador for The Power of Nutrition. “I’m pleased to announce that The Power of Nutrition has pledged an incredible $35 million to help them accelerate progress and improve Rwandan children’s lives.”

The announcement, shared last night with a 6,000 strong audience at the O2 Academy in South London, came in response to the 15,000 Global Citizens who called on The Power of Nutrition and heads of government to do more to help children and their mothers access the right nutrition. This new funding will help prevent a chronic form of undernutrition called stunting (poor childhood growth), which leaves children vulnerable to illness and educational disadvantages.

“We are grateful and very appreciative to The Power of Nutrition and all our partners for their support in our journey to reduce stunting dramatically which is a very high priority for the Government of Rwanda,” added Dr Patrick Ndimubanzi, Rwanda’s Minister of State in Charge of Public Health and Primary Healthcare.

This investment in nutrition, which will be part of a programme bringing together the Government of Rwanda, The World Bank and The Global Financing Facility as well as The Power of the Nutrition, will continue efforts working towards better health and wealth in the country.

“In Rwanda it is estimated that undernutrition is the underlying cause of 22 percent of all child mortality, 13 percent of primary school repetition, and lower adult wages leading to the annual loss of 11.5 percent of GDP,” said Martin Short, CEO of The Power of Nutrition. “We are honoured to contribute to the Government of Rwanda’s ambition to eliminate stunting through this holistic program.”

WE ARE GRATEFUL AND VERY APPRECIATIVE TO THE POWER OF NUTRITION AND ALL OUR PARTNERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN OUR JOURNEY TO REDUCE STUNTING DRAMATICALLY WHICH IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA

- DR PATRICK NDIMUBANZI

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