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Health & Nutrition
Good health and nutrition is essential to the holistic wellbeing of children, their families, and communities. AEE Rwanda works with households whose members include children and adolescents, and with youth and adults up to thirty-five years. Through family and community centered programs, we deploy integrated programs change behaviors and make available the means to better health outcomes.
AEE Rwanda targets health and nutrition programs at pregnant women, lactating mothers, and infants, monitoring health both infant and maternal health through check-ups and community nursing. Our programs and campaigns at the community level teach mothers about balanced diets and healthcare, provide forums for parents to share their own knowledge, and through initiatives such as parent-led school feeding and kitchen gardens, ensure that families have the means to provide a balanced diet.
Our health programs targeted at youth and young adults focus on sexual and reproductive health, and HIV education and prevention for vulnerable groups.
People with disabilities are often excluded from school and work opportunities due to their disabilities. AEE Rwanda programs offer screening and referral to specialists for children, youth, and young adults with disabilities. We work with schools to ensure that all children are able to partake in education and assist youth with disabilities in acquiring employable skills.
Pregnant & Lactating Women
Babies should be born and develop in good health. AEE Rwanda works with mothers and mothers-to-be. AEE Rwanda helps women access ante-natal and post-natal education and care, and supports breastfeeding mothers with training, advice, and access to healthcare services when needed.
A balanced nutritious diet is essential to pregnant women and mothers. AEE's nutritional programs (below) give women the knowledge and the means to prepare healthy meals for themselves, their babies, and families.
Infant Health
AEE Rwanda works with our early childhood centers, health centers, and community health workers to screen infants for stunting, malnutrition, and developmental problems. Infants with serious problems are referred to local health services; however, most issues - especially nutritional - are resolved through community health workers and volunteers working with parents on providing a balanced diet.
Nutritional Education
All children should be adequately nourished. AEE Rwanda includes nutrition components across projects including early childhood development centers (ECD), savings and self-help groups, and improved agriculture. We provide practical training in nutrition through household, school and community kitchen garden projects. Our community health workers attached to nutrition groups teach mothers how to grow and find the foods necessary for an affordable balanced diet, and parents share information at regular community kitchen events.
Sexual & Reproductive Health
Adolescents and youth should know about and exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and health. AEE Rwanda projects educate female and male youth in sexual health and rights through both mixed-sex groups and female only safe-space groups. Mentors and linkage facilitators become trusted advisors to the youth members, and can refer youths to health services where needed.
Anti-gender-based violence (GBV) is prominent in AEE Rwanda projects for all ages. Community volunteers will work with families to understand and address causes of conflict, and will work with local authorities to ensure that reporting channels are known and accessible.
School-based projects educate young women, and men, on menstrual health and supply menstrual health products to girls to ensure that menstruation does not unnecessarily interrupt their education.
HIV
AEE Rwanda works to reduce new HIV infections and empower people with HIV to enjoy full lives. Our projects mobilise at-risk youths and communities to know their HIV status through regular testing. Community health workers and linkage coordinators help HIV+ youth to access the available services and work with the local clinics to reduce stigmatisation and create an environment conducive to adhering to treatment.
At-risk young women will be enrolled into pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) programs, reducing their risk of HIV infections. Young men are encouraged to undergo circumcision, a procedure that greatly reduces their risk of infection.
Community Health Workers
Our community health workers are the mainstay of our projects. These are local people solving local problems. Drawn from the communities in which they will work, community health workers are trained through AEE projects to identify problems, work with the project participants on long term solutions, and refer people to health services if necessary.
