Malnutrition to Wellness: Giving Every Child a Fair Start

In South Africa, malnutrition is more than just hunger—it is a silent crisis threatening the future of our children. It steals their strength, slows their development, and dims their potential before they have even had a chance to shine.

According to a June 2024 UNICEF report, around 23% of South African children live in severe food poverty, placing them at high risk of life-threatening malnutrition and long-term health complications. Alarmingly, South Africa is now one of just 20 countries responsible for 65% of global severe child food poverty.

Source: https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/one-three-children-under-five-live-severe-child-food-poverty-unicef

A Dual Crisis: Stunted and Overweight

South Africa faces a double burden of malnutrition. National health data reveals that:

• 27% of children under five are stunted—too short for their age due to long-term undernutrition
  Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9540989/
• 13% are overweight, reflecting rising consumption of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods
  Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
• 5% of children suffer from wasting, a severe condition marked by rapid weight loss due to acute malnutrition
  Source (per Wikipedia’s South Africa page): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malnutrition_in_South_Africa

These figures are more than statistics—they are stories of children growing up in communities where food insecurity is the norm, not the exception.

Rooted in Poverty and Inequality

Malnutrition is deeply intertwined with poverty, especially in South Africa’s rural and under-resourced areas. Limited access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and affordable, nutritious food means thousands of children are being left behind—before they even start school.

The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising food prices, combined with persistent unemployment and climate change, have only deepened the crisis.

Source: https://www.unicef.org/rosa/press-releases/impact-covid-19-nutrition-south-asia

But the greatest tragedy? Malnutrition in early childhood does not just delay development—it determines it. It weakens the immune system, disrupts brain growth, hinders learning, and locks children in a cycle of poverty and poor health that can last a lifetime.

The Starfish Response: Nourishing Hope

At Starfish Greathearts Foundation, we understand that children cannot learn or play on an empty stomach. That’s why we work with trusted local partners to provide nutritious meals, growth monitoring, and health education at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and community hubs across five provinces.

Our health & wellness programmes support over 19,000 children annually, with regular health screenings, referrals to clinics, and a focus on maternal and child nutrition. We train caregivers and ECD practitioners on the importance of balanced meals and developmental stimulation—ensuring that children not only survive but thrive.

Source: https://www.starfishcharity.org/za/how-we-help/health-wellness/

A Story of Wellness: Sipho’s Journey

In a dusty township in KwaZulu-Natal, baby Sipho was frail and underweight when his mother brought him to a Starfish-supported centre. Her face was filled with worry—he was not eating, wasn’t growing, and barely had the energy to cry. Through Starfish’s interventions, Sipho received nutritional support, medical referrals, and his mother was educated on how to prepare low-cost, balanced meals. Within months, Sipho gained weight, began to smile, and reached key developmental milestones. Today, he is a thriving four-year-old, full of laughter and curiosity—proof that with the right support, healing is possible.

Learn more: https://www.starfishcharity.org/za/how-we-help/health-wellness/

From Crisis to Action: What South Africa Needs Now

Solving malnutrition requires urgent, coordinated action. Government, civil society, businesses, and communities must come together to:

• Improve maternal nutrition and promote exclusive breastfeeding
  Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding
• Increase access to affordable, diverse, and nutritious food
• Strengthen early childhood development centres with proper meals and health services
• Prioritise regular child growth monitoring and community-based health outreach

Malnutrition is not just a health issue—it is a social justice issue. And it is solvable.

Hope Starts with a Meal

Every child deserves to grow up strong, healthy, and ready to learn. By investing in children’s nutrition today, we lay the foundation for a healthier, more resilient South Africa tomorrow.

At Starfish Greathearts Foundation, we believe in turning the tide—from malnutrition to wellness, from survival to hope. Together, we can ensure that no child is left behind.