title: Nutrition surveillance and intervention, South Africa.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fincham
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000353:Africa, Southern; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003906:Developing Countries; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006262:Health; D006285:Health Planning; D006296:Health Services; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013019:South Africa
keywords: Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Delivery Of Health Care; Developing Countries; English Speaking Africa; Evaluation; Health; Health Services; Monitoring; Nutrition Programs; Primary Health Care; South Africa; Southern Africa