All hands on deck to set today’s children on the route to a better future

“We can do it together!” This was the overwhelming sentiment at yesterday’s (9 October 2024) Stunting Imbizo, hosted at the Tsantsabane Community Hall by the Lesedi Solar Park Trust with the aim of reducing stunting in local communities.

Stunting is a condition that arises from prolonged under-nutrition that affects a child’s physical and brain development and robs them of reaching their full potential. Stunting affects a child’s brain development meaning that stunted children are less likely to complete school, more likely to live in poverty, and more likely to suffer from chronic diseases in adulthood. A stunted child is typically short for their age.

Poverty, inequality, poor access to water and sanitation, gender inequality, and food insecurity all increase the likelihood of stunting.

According to community stunting surveys conducted in Postmasburg, Skeyfontein, Jenn Haven, Danielskuil, Groenwater, and Lime Acres, three in ten children under five suffer from stunting.

Sinazo Nkwelo, Program Director of the Lesedi Solar Park Trust, shared the results of the survey and explained how they pertained to stunting.  The survey revealed that within the Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele municipalities, 94% of children had inadequate dietary diversity, 17% lack access to adequate sanitation, and 24% receive no access to early childhood development.

Attendees included from representatives of Flourish (ante- and postnatal classes), GrowGreat Champions (community nutrition), Nal’ibali (literacy program), SmartStart (early childhood development), various community based organisations (including TADs, TWCC, TCOH, Therapists on Wheels, Kiddies Care, and Agape), Sister Vos,  representating the Department of Health, and Chief Marotobolo from Groenwater Stasie.

“The result of stunting is that children remain in poverty,” explained Nkwelo. “If we hope for today’s children to have better lives than their parents, we need to address stunting. The necessary solutions are multi-faceted. We need to improve maternal health, nutrition, sanitation, access to early childhood development, awareness, and education and this requires an all hands on deck approach.”

In addition to research and awareness raising, the Lesedi Solar Park Trust funds Flourish and Grow Great Champions in the Tsantsabane and Kgatelopele municipalities as a means of addressing the issue of stunting.

Flourish is a network of antenatal and postnatal classes that supports, celebrates, and empowers mothers throughout the critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life and specifically promotes good maternal nutrition and exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months as a means of combatting stunting.

Grow Great Champions supports and resources community healthcare workers, empowering them to better inform and aid the community in combatting stunting.

“(As the Trust) we can’t do it alone,” said Nkwelo. “To effectively address the issue of stunting in our communities, we need all stakeholders to come on board and play their part.”

Following presentations on the results and on the Flourish and Grow Great Champions programs, attendees were invited to share their suggestions and commitments to addressing the issue.

 “We can improve our awareness campaigns to the communities and especially in high schools so that learners realise what stunting is, and the dangers of alcohol,” said Thato Gaolese from REAP. “We need to encourage moms to use reusable diapers as this will save moms money and free up funds for healthy food. We also need to find ways to improve fathers’ involvement in the care of children.”

“Part of the problem is that we don’t have the commitment of the municipality,” said Thabiso Machedane of the My Journey Foundation. “They’ve not attended today and they are a crucial role player. One of the contributors to stunting is poor sanitation. We need water provision. Another is poor nutrition, we need water to maintain a vegetable garden. These require the municipality’s commitment”

Isurietha Visagie, Coordinator for Flourish, invited all attendees to pledge to play their part in the fight against stunting. “Together we can!”