KIGALI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan health ministry with other partners on Tuesday launched a countrywide health campaign aimed to increase awareness on various health issues to ensure healthy living among Rwandans.

The integrated campaign targets key health related issues, including malnutrition, teenage pregnancy and low uptake of family planning in Rwandan families, said Rwandan health minister Diane Gashumba at the national launch event in Karama sector, Nyagatare district in eastern Rwanda.

Parents will be sensitized on how to ensure proper hygiene and proper feeding in homes to avoid child stunting, said Gashumba.

The campaign will also raise awareness on early childhood development and step up efforts in dissemination of information on disease prevention, she said.

The campaign will be conducted at various health facilities but especially at health posts at village levels across the country in order to increase its reach in a short time, said the minister.

Campaign stakeholders include social empowerment organization Imbuto Foundation chaired by Rwandan First Lady Jeannette Kagame, ministry of defence and Rwanda's National Early Childhood Development Program.

During the launch of the campaign, health officials handed out community mobilization kits to representatives of community health workers, youth volunteers, local and religious leaders.

The campaign will be carried out in various phases, including a social welfare week and a maternal and child health week, and the entire campaign will take three years, according to the ministry.

Children aged 15 years and below across the country will be given deworming medicine during the campaign. Enditem

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