In a bid to end child stunting by 2030, President Cyril Ramaphosa has initiated a task team to tackle this pressing national issue. South Africa faces a staggering 27% of children under five experiencing stunting, a condition often resulting from chronic malnutrition and inadequate healthcare. Stunting not only affects physical growth but can also impair brain development.
Medical doctor David Harrison, a leading expert on the issue, highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach. “We had been fixating on learning outcomes and missing the basics – that you can’t learn without food, without nutrition, “he. Harrison draws parallels between the early 1990s HIV crisis and the current stunting situation, advocating for a turning point in awareness and intervention.
To address the issue, Harrison suggests a three — pronged approach: a bottom-up approach from pregnancy, a focus on protein and micronutrient-rich nutrition, and presidential leadership to ensure inter-governmental cohesion and external partnerships. He emphasizes the need for dedicated leadership in the Presidency to mobilize government departments, the business sector, and civil society.
Presidency Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya revealed the formation of a special task team to oversee a “targeted action plan “to combat child malnutrition and stunting. The plan aims to expand access to nutritious foods, enhance ante- and post-natal care, raise awareness of healthy food choices, and reduce alcohol abuse. Funding for the action plan will be allocated once priorities have been identified.
The national mission follows Operation Vulindlela and a network of civil society engagements with the presidency. South Africa plans to learn from countries like Peru and Chile, which successfully halved stunting rates in less than 10 years.
Harrison suggests several ways to allocate additional government funding effectively. He advocates for multiple micronutrient supplementation in the prenatal period and tweaking social grants to provide more support to pregnant women and new mothers. He also proposes extending the Child Support Grant to cover pregnancy and providing vouchers for high-protein foods.
Khulisa Care, a project between DGMT and the Western Cape Government, provides undernourished pregnant women and mothers of low — birth-weight babies with monthly vouchers for protein-rich foods. The project also includes regular home visits from trained community health workers for breastfeeding support and mental health check-ins.
Evidence suggests that grants and keeping children in the system are impactful. A review by Grow Great found that children under two exposed to more than four community healthcare worker visits experienced faster catch-up growth. The Thrive by Five Survey 2024 revealed significantly lower stunting rates among children in early learning programmes compared to those not enrolled.
Government is now trying to extend similar nutritional support to pre — schools, or Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres. However, challenges remain, including limited funding and a fragmented organizational structure.
Despite the nation’s commitment to early childhood development, South Africa has spent decades playing catch-up. Harrison emphasizes the need for a long-term institutionalization of support for the eradication of malnutrition.
Source: Impulsradio & Television Africa
