Pregnancy grant to save lives

MALNUTRITION: R2BN INVESTMENT MAY AVERT R13.8BN IN HEALTH COSTS, PREVENT CHILD STUNTING

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

The scourge of malnutrition continues to devastate South Africa, with preventable deaths starkly undermining the nation’s standing as one of Africa’s largest economies.

Concerned about rising levels of stunting among children due to malnourishment, child welfare organisations are calling for fast-tracking of the envisaged maternal support grant (MSG) or “pregnancy grant”, to curb its prevalence.

This would cost the state an estimated R2 billion annually to implement but advocates argue it could save nearly R13.8 billion in public health expenditures by averting the long-term costs due complications associated with babies born malnourished each year.

A policy on the proposed grant, currently in draft, was designed to extend the child support grant to cover pregnant women.

This is one of the suggestions raised by DG Murray Trust (DGMT), a foundation built on endowments from Douglas and Eleanor Murray that also serves as a public innovator through strategic investment with its stated commitment to developing South Africa’s potential.

National health department director-general Dr Sandile Buthelezi recently revealed at least 1 000 children have died from severe acute malnutrition in hospitals over the past 18 months in SA.