Nutrition surveillance and intervention, South Africa

Under the apartheid regime there was no national framework for development in South Africa. Now, for the first time in South Africa, the government of national unity has provided a framework for development. This is a people-centered development strategy that calls for intersectoral collaboration and a vision for community involvement. Within this framework, the Department of Health has developed an integrated nutrition program with a health-based component and a community-based aspect. There is now a movement towards community-based program and nutrition surveillance. Although it is still early, there are some lessons that can be learned from these programs: growth monitoring can be used to promote community-based surveillance and to provide information upon which the communities can act; training, supervision, and information dissemination is essential, and it is also important to identify indicators to monitor success; building on existing infrastructure and capabilities within communities and linking up with NGOs and other organizations who have long-standing relationships with the communities is essential; identifying and capitalizing on indigenous resources and capabilities within countries is important; and there has to be political commitment.