EDITORIAL | Child malnutrition needs our attention now

A Cape Town-based social movement has taken it upon itself to tackle malnutrition among children. Now, more than ever, this is a problem that should receive our utmost attention. Food prices are skyrocketing while our unemployment numbers are going through the roof. In an article published on social justice media website New Frame on Monday, Children’s Resource Centre (CRC) founder Marcus Solomon is quoted as saying: “Our kids are in a terrible state.” 

The stats back up his statement. According to the same article, figures from the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute show that in 2020 about 4-million children in SA had stunted growth because of malnutrition while 10-million children went hungry every day. The Covid-19 pandemic worsened the situation. Research on food insecurity in SA, conducted by the University of Stellenbosch in 2021, showed that respondents in 2.3-million households reported child hunger last April and May. Of that group, about 620,000 households said a child had experienced hunger almost every day. That is enough children to fill 10 Ellis Park stadiums.

The National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) said while food security had improved for some households since the hard lockdown, hunger has not been reduced. “While some households have managed to recover from the initial devastating effects of the pandemic and hard lockdown, a large proportion of households remains economically extremely vulnerable, with the danger of longer term consequences such as child stunting that may affect not only children’s current situation but also their future development, human capital and labour market prospects.”

Since the publication of the NIDS report in July, many households’ economic situations have gone from bad to worse, for several reasons. Russia’s war on Ukraine has caused an increase in fuel prices, which in turn spikes food costs. KwaZulu-Natal is reeling from floods with the cost of the estimated damage standing at R17bn. About 100 schools have been extensively damaged and are inaccessible to pupils. Families have to buy their own water or collect from water tankers. This as the Household Affordability Index reports that year-on-year food basket price rises are outstripping headline inflation.

This is why the new campaign by the Children’s Resource Centre should receive support of all sorts. It has invited organisations to join a movement to find long-term solutions to malnutrition among children. “We are asking as many people from every aspect of life to join,” said Solomon. He rightly says feeding initiatives cannot continue relying on goodwill and charity. A coordinated national response is required and that includes not only volunteer work but also forcing accountability among our government agencies tasked with upholding the basic rights of children.