Today Save the Children launched its
report ‘A life free of hunger: tackling child malnutrition’ at a media briefing
in Johannesburg. This is part of the Everyone Campaign and the report was
launched simultaneously in three continents.
The report analyses the causes of
malnutrition focusing on chronic malnutrition and stunting in children. It
identifies solutions that are proven to be effective which include direct and
indirect intervention.
Mixael de Kock, Chair of the
Johannesburg Press Club, opened the event stressing the importance of looking
after children and making sure that the current situation does not continue. All
the speakers agreed that there is a need for a partnership between governments
and civil society in dealing with malnutrition.
In his presentation, David Sanders of
Save the Children indicated that child grants play an important role in curbing
the situation. A study conducted in South Africa has proved that recipients of
grants have more access to quality foods than those not receiving grants. He
also noted that the proposed National Health Insurance in South Africa will not
work unless the health system is working (public health system in rural areas,
community clinics and small hospitals). He also argued that there is a need to
invest in competent people for the right positions and ensure that proper
management systems are in place. He commended the work of community workers and
that they do not get enough support from the state (nurses and local
facilities).
He added that there is a need to
deploy district specialist teams and improve the school health programmes.
There are plans for school nurses to visit schools on a regular basis. Save the
Children is exploring ways of assisting in this regard. He concluded his
presentation by noting that 18% stunting is too high for a middle income country
like South Africa.
There was input from Scott McNiven of USAIDS
talked about food aid quality, Osten Chulu of UNDP looked at the challenges of
meeting the MDGs by 2015 while Richard Young of the EU looked at the inequities
and the relationship to hunger and malnutrition. Chantell Witten, the Nutrition
specialist at UNICEF noted that the nutritional challenges differ from
community to community and are also affected by geographic location of those
affected. She stressed that the problem is not always that people do not have
access to food, but the quality of food they have access to. She said that nutrition
is an imperative, we can’t do without it. She informed the audience that packages
of care for new born babies are available in some provinces and KZN has taken
it on board.
A child journalist from Parktown Girls
High asked if genetically modified foods have any nutritional value and if it
is wise to promote them as an alternative. Witten advised that those with micro
nutrients would be best and she would support them. There was also a discussion
on the integrated feeding programme at South African schools as it does not
meet the nutritional requirements of the students. Nutrition is taught in
schools and but school feeding does not focus on nutrition but is there to
ensure that kids manage the day.
The keynote address was given by Lynn
Moeng, the Director of Nutrition from the South African Government. In her
speech she said that people affected by malnutrition are not consulted when
developing strategies. She asked the following questions: Are we targeting the
right people? Are we investing in the right strategies? Are policies aimed at
addressing malnutrition correct? Who should be investing in the first 1000 days
of a child’s life? What should government do to ensure mothers breast feed for
the first six months?
Moeng acknowledged that various
government departments should be involved in nutrition issues not just one. She
stressed the need to hear from children what needs to be done differently. She
pointed out that when dealing with nutrition and hunger, people must understand
that causes are different and not the same in each environment and should be
treated accordingly. It depends on the areas where people live e.g. an
alcoholic parent, where parents are overweight, where both parents earn an
income. Its not only the poor who struggle with poor nutrition. She said that everyone
needs to play a role – governments, families, establishments and business. She
concluded by stating that she feels ashamed as an adult to be told by children
that we should feed them. This was after she was handed a petition signed in
thumbprints by hundreds of children.
