The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) convened a two-day conference in Benoni on October 9 and 10, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to ensure the sustainable continuation of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
More than 300 delegates, including researchers, experts, activists and policymakers, presented their insights as part of the organisation’s Schools Food Environment Assembly Programme, which took place at the ANEW Hotel and Conference Centre OR Tambo Johannesburg (formerly The Lakes Hotel).
Nine million children from 21 000 schools across SA currently benefit from the government-led NSNP, but recent budget cuts threaten its sustainability. A 2022/2023 report indicated the government spent just over R8.4b that financial year on its nationwide school feeding scheme.
Fears are mounting that austerity measures will adversely affect the ongoing efforts to ensure every child receives a healthy and nutritious meal at least once daily.
When addressing those in attendance, the HEALA CEO, Nzama Mbalati, said it is vital to note that the conference was purposely hosted during National Health and Nutrition Week (October 9 to 15).
“The NSNP was established in 1994 to fight malnutrition and reduce hunger, thereby improving school attendance,” he said.
“We believe the project needs to seize the opportunity to improve the school food environment, strengthen the promotion of health and improve the health outcomes of learners.
“The constitution clearly states every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic healthcare and social services.
“Yet, the public healthcare system still grapples with the triple burden of malnutrition, undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies because of our broken food system.”
Mbalati continued, saying that it would be a tragedy if the initiative regressed in any way. Professor Scott Drimmie of the Stellenbosch University’s division of human hutrition: department of global health and medicine sciences said even though the programme had moved learners out of poverty, there were some missed opportunities in ensuring the eradication of hunger and poverty through innovative and cost-effective procurement programmes and sustainable agricultural practices.
“Throughout the country, small-scale farmers are steadily increasing, many of whom are located near impoverished schools,” said Mbalati.
“These growers must be engaged to contribute yields to the programme in exchange for reasonable remuneration. We also need to turn our attention to what tuck shops and nearby vendors sell and the food safety policies relating to these outlets.
“The programme should focus on providing a balanced meal to children and how external influences such as corporate advertising could affect children’s food choices.”
Dr Nomathemba Chindiwana, the director and principal scientist at Ezintsha, sounded the alarm on childhood obesity, saying SA ranks among the top 20 countries experiencing rapidly increasing statistics relating to obesity.
“We are currently ranked second in the world, with some four million children battling obesity. This number is expected to sky-rocket to 12 million in 2035, putting these children at greater risk of developing hypertension and diabetes,” she said.
She believes an urgent shift is needed to offer balanced and healthy meals to children at reasonable prices.
“Junk food comes cheap, but in the long run, the effects are costly.”
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