Left to right: NRM district Chairperson Mr. Wilson Byaboona,Deputy RDC Kyegegwa District Ms. Winnie Atuhaire, Kyegegwa District Vice Chairperson Mr. Nabasa Lawrence, The Head of FAGRIB Unit Dr. Violet Kanyiginya and the Assistant RDC Kyegegwa District after launching the Breastfeeding Corner at the district headquarters. KRC-Uganda with funding from the United Nations World Food Program (UNWFP), in collaboration with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Kyegegwa District Local Government (KDLG), Medical Team International (MTI), CARE International and Refugee-led Organizations such as RESDA, Lets Help International (LHI), organised and participated in a 7-day nutrition symposium held at Kyegegwa District headquarters from 1st to 7th August 2024. The event commemorated the World Breastfeeding Month under the theme: Closing the Gap, Breastfeeding Support for All. Ms. Sharon Nalunkuuma shares insights about nutrition and breast feeding. Ms. Sharon Nalunkuuma, the team leader of, KRC-Uganda in Kyaka II Refugee settlement was beaming with joy at the milestone that KRC-Uganda has registered in addressing issues of malnutrition in the settlement and Kyegegwa district. While addressing the high-level stakeholders during the event, she stressed the need to support mothers’ consumption of adequate and nutritious foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding to ensure good health for both the mother and the child. Ms. Sharon dismissed the long-held myth that small babies are easy to push during delivery as opposed to big ones, emphasising that if a child is born below normal weight (<2.5kg), that significantly affects the window of opportunity (conception to 2 years of child’s life). She highlighted that stunting is low height for age, irreversible after the child’s second birthday. She reminded all stakeholders to support mothers in the initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery. Attention was also drawn to the Kulea Watoto project, which is implemented by KRC-Uganda in consortium with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), supporting mothers to access nutritious foods through household kitchen gardens and demonstration gardens at the Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs). The Symposium was a blend of knowledge sharing, learning and reflection, organised with the following objectives: To strengthen the coordination mechanism for Nutrition in the Kyegegwa district To generate practical solutions and pathways for accelerating the achievement of sustainable optimal nutrition results; To take stock of the progress made in the implementation of nutrition activities and; To develop actions for accelerated delivery of Kyegegwa District Nutrition Action Plan (DNAP). Pupils of Humura primary School share a photo moment after a wonderful performance The symposium attracted several stakeholders including district and government officials, the media fraternity, CBOS, INGOs, NGOs and CSOs, and religious and cultural leaders. In his remarks, the District Planner- Mr. Denis Busobozi, who is also the District Nutrition Focal person for the Kyegegwa district, commended the Kabarole District Nutrition Coordination Committee (DNCC) for their unwavering commitment to nutrition initiatives in their district. He implored the Kyegegwa district to plant more fruit trees that will be beneficial to the wider community as opposed to flowers which serve a decorative purpose. “We are indebted to CARE International for facilitating the exchange learning visit to Kabarole district to benchmark best practices by their nutrition committee” emphasised Denis. Mr. Denis Busobozi, the district planner and nutrition focal person kyegegwa district addresses stakeholders during the symposium The guest of honour Ms. Winnie Atuhaire, the Deputy RDC of Kyegegwa district thanked participants for their commitment towards food and nutrition security programs. While inspecting the exhibition area, the Deputy RDC was surprised and challenged by the mealworm feeding initiative by Mother Against Hunger and Malnutrition (MAMAH) stating that it is unique yet easy to achieve. She was equally amazed by the Early Childhood Development integration approach KRC-Uganda employs under the Kulea Watoto project while empowering communities to adopt optimal child care and nutrition practices. As a highlight to close the nutrition symposium, Ms. Winnie officially launched the breastfeeding corner at the district headquarters -an initiative by KRC-Uganda with Funding from the UNWFP. She appreciated KRC-Uganda for thinking about mothers in such a special way. “I am also a mother, so I will be able to come with my baby and breastfeed from here. I will now work comfortably and peacefully knowing that my baby and the caretaker are close to me”, she noted with a smile. She called upon all implementing partners to expand their sensitisation to the Surrounding host communities of the Kyaka II refugee settlement for enhanced coexistence. The guest of honour listens attentively to the nutrition experts at the KRC-Uganda exhibition stall. The guest of honour assured participants that Uganda has established its first Breast Milk Bank in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital and the efforts are still agile in the expansion of Human Milk Banks. This will enable infants who cannot access their mother’s milk during crises or emergencies, to also benefit from this essential source of nutrition and protection. She appealed to men (fathers) to proactively protect, promote and support the breastfeeding of babies. Further, she encouraged all male spouses to escort their wives for antenatal and postnatal visits. some of the stakeholders at the nutrition symposium Key resolutions from the symposium included: Setting up and equipping the Breast-feeding corner at the District Headquarters Sub counties and Town council to operationalize the Nutrition interventions including the Nutrition Coordination Committees   District, Health facilities, Schools, Sub County headquarters and Town Council headquarters to set up nutrition demo sites   Political leaders to mobilise and sensitise households to set up kitchen gardens for improved nutrition. Plant fruit trees at institutional headquarters (District, Town Council, Sub County, Schools, health facilities, and OPM Offices at Bujubuli. Mainstream nutrition in all activities through budget allocation and expenditure on nutrition interventions  Set up and operate nutrition committees in schools and health facilities Conduct regular exchange visits to learn from best-performing local governments  Map, monitor and supervise all nutrition-implementing partners   Conduct monthly, and quarterly, nutrition coordination, review and planning meetings for Kyaka II Settlement and sub-county/Town council rotational meetings. (Care International in Uganda, OPM, etc). Regulate the consumption of alcohol (spirits) among the refugees and host communities in Kyegegwa District. (District Leadership/ Refugee |Welfare Councils-RWCs) Integrate youth and People with disabilities in nutrition interventions including campaigns. Advocate for the recruitment of Nutritionists in the District. Ms. Winnie Atuhaire the Deputy RDC Kyegegwa district inspecting the breast feeding corner after launching it as the guest of honour. By: Caroline Namara Bwana Communication and Documentation Officer KRC-Uganda