KIGALI, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen percent of children in Rwanda are born with stunting or chronic malnutrition, a Rwandan official for childhood development said here Friday.

While stunting rates are higher among the poor households especially those living in rural areas, wealthy families also have children suffering from stunting, said National Coordinator of National Early Childhood Development Program Anita Asiimwe.

In a meeting to discuss challenges facing families in Kigali, Asiimwe appealed to the public to ensure proper maternal and childhood practices in the first 1,000 days of child development in order to prevent stunting among children.

Stunting is placed high on the agenda of the government to be addressed under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Efforts to tackle the problem include ensuring food security, nutrition and early childhood development. Enditem

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