Liezel Engelbrecht, Nutrition Strategy Lead for the Hold My Hand Accelerator at DGMT, spoke to Smile FM to unpack a new pilot in the Western Cape tackling one of South Africa’s silent crises: childhood stunting. With more than a quarter of children under five affected, the pilot focuses on improving maternal nutrition as a first line of defence.
In partnership with the Western Cape Department of Health and the Department of the Premier, the initiative provides support to underweight pregnant women and mothers of low birth weight babies in Worcester, Khayelitsha, and Mitchell’s Plain. From monthly food vouchers to breastfeeding guidance and mental health services, the programme aims to give vulnerable babies the best possible start in life. Listen to the full interview below.
