The South African Constitution clearly states that every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services, and social services. Yet, South Africa’s public healthcare system is still grappling with a triple burden of malnutrition – undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, a result of our country’s broken food system. 
 
It goes without saying that a healthy and sufficient diet is essential for all – particularly for the adequate growth and development of school-age children. The recent National Food and Nutrition Security Survey found a 13 per cent prevalence of obesity in children under the age of 5, which is double the global average. Undernutrition, in the form of stunting, stood at 27 per cent – with underweight at 6 per cent and wasting at 3 per cent. The above statistics point to a major public health concern and show that learners do not stand a fighting chance against the risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers, now and in the future.
 
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), a government initiative, is a school feeding scheme that provides daily meals to over 9 million learners in underprivileged primary and secondary schools. “The NSNP was established in 1994 with the aim of fighting malnutrition, reducing hunger and thereby improving school attendance. We, at The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA), view the NSNP as an important and massive opportunity that can be leveraged to improve the school food environment, strengthen health promotion, and improve the health outcomes of learners. This matter will be foremost on the agenda at the Schools Food Environment Assembly, our upcoming two-day conference which falls on South Africa’s National Health and Nutrition Week this October,” says HEALA CEO Nzama Mbalati. 
 
About Schools Food Environment Assembly

Convened by HEALA and its partners, the Schools Food Environment Assembly aims to develop a joint actionable plan that mobilises society to monitor and improve the school food environment and health outcomes of all learners utilising the existing NSNP. “This convening will bring together diverse views and vibrant voices from civil society, small-scale farmers and local food producers, schools, United Nations agencies, government, and researchers to chart a way forward for collective efforts to improve the NSNP through a variety of interventions,” explains Mbalati. The interventions will include, but will not be limited to:

The legal framework in the implementation of South Africa’s  NSNP;
Opportunities and challenges in the implementation of the NSNP, as well asexploring possibilities of scaling and expanding;
Utilising the NSNP for the promotion of local and sustainable food systems – connecting local and small-scale food producers to consumers​, democratising and decentralising public procurement and expenditure, and strengthening local economies;
Limiting the availability of ultra-processed foods/products and incentivising healthy eating in the school environment; and
Looking at the main drivers of obesity and malnutrition, and related policy interventions in schools.
 
Details
Date: 9 to 10 October 2024
Venue: Anew Hotel OR Tambo, 1 Country Street, Lakefield, Benoni, 1501 (Google Maps)
 
About HEALA: HEALA is a coalition of civil society organisations advocating for equitable access to affordable, nutritious food in South Africa by building a more just food system.
For media interviews contact: 
Mr Neo Merafi on 071 359 9738 or Neo@maverickbrand.co.za 
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