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NUTRITION
AIM
To ensure that policies and programmes promote the optimal nutrition of women and children
in South Africa.
Background
Nutrition is one of the functional areas that cut across the main focus areas of
the Child Health Unit (Figure 1). The latter include service, policy and advocacy,
research and training. The main reasons for placing a special focus on nutrition relates
to:
(a) The right of children to adequate nutrition in terms of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child;
(b) The high prevalence of malnutrition in South Africa;
(c) The commitment of the Department of Health to meeting the nutritional needs
of women and children through implementation of the Integrated
Nutrition
Programme.
Figure 1
Nutrition Division 
Within the Child Health Unit is a core group of individuals who are responsible
for the various nutrition activities. The Child Health Unit has also formed a relationship
with researchers at other institutions such as the Medical Research Council, the Dietetics
Unit of the University of Cape Town and the Provincial Administration of the Western Cape.
Objectives of the Nutrition Division
To:
· conduct and collate policy-oriented investigations and analyses that will inform
nutrition policy and advocacy activities
· facilitate the translation of policy into implementation of appropriate nutrition
services for women and children at the district level
· support services in their implementation, evaluation and monitoring of nutrition
interventions
· contribute to effective training of regional and district health personnel.
· Develop nutrition resource materials and training manuals
Principles
The following principles guide the efforts of the Nutrition Division:
· advocacy for nutrition policy and programmes
· facilitation and promotion of intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration at all
levels
· promotion of equity in nutrition policy and programmes
· promotion of sustainable and cost-effective nutrition programmes
· implementation of nutrition policy within the primary health care context
· promotion of flexibility regarding nutrition policy and programmes.
Activities over the past few years
· Involvement in the South African vitamin A consultative group (SAVACG) survey.
· A national evaluation of the Primary School Nutrition Programme (PSNP).
· A report on nutrition interventions for women and pre-school children
in South Africa as part of the PSNP evaluation.
· An evaluation of the Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) Scheme in the Northern
Cape.
· A breastfeeding policy research brief - A review of the literature on
breastfeeding: policy and research implications.
· A written submission to the national Directorate of Nutrition on the draft National
Breastfeeding Policy document
· A partnership with the Hhlatlolanang Health and Nutrition Education Centre in
which community-based nutritional strategies for South Africa are being
explored.
· Commentary on the ethics of advertising (in response to a national first prize
advertising award presented to Gerber Purity for its "success" in
increasing its
product sales).
· Development of a brochure on vitamin A deficiency for primary health care
workers.
· An economic analysis of vitamin A interventions in South Africa.
· Development of the Health and Nutrition chapter in the First Call: The South
African Children's Budget, published by the Institute for Democratic Alternatives
in South Africa, August 1997.
· Evaluation of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative in the Northern Cape
· Contribution to the development of case management guidelines and training
materials on Growth Monitoring, Management of Malnutrition and Vitamin A
Supplementation in the Western Cape
· Development of a booklet and computer-based interactive learning material on
Promoting Healthy Growth
· Support for the development of a community-based nutrition programme at
Bloekombos in the Western Cape
· Development of factsheets on:
- breastfeeding
- complementary feeding
- malnutrition
- Primary School Nutrition Programme
- The link between nutrition, health and education
- The Integrated Nutrition Programme
For more information about Nutrition contact: Dr M Hendricks |
