Over 2,000 Mothers and Babies Gain Vital Support Across the WC

Photo Credit: Mireille Wenger via Facebook

Healthier children, stronger families, and brighter futures all start with vital support. A newly launched Western Cape pilot is delivering essential monthly food vouchers, primary healthcare, and growth monitoring directly to mothers and children in underserved communities in the province.

Western Cape, South Africa (20 August 2026) – Every expectant mom, nursing mother, and newborn child should have access to the nutrition and healthcare they need to develop well, grow, and thrive. Unfortunately, for many families, this basic need is not always within reach.

Understanding how vital access to nutritious food and healthcare is, the Western Cape Government launched the Khulisa Care pilot, an initiative supporting underweight pregnant women, those at risk of giving birth to a baby weighing less than 2.5 kilograms, and mothers with low-birth-weight babies.

As of August 7, this programme has been available at testing sites in Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and the Breede Valley, already reaching 2,027 mothers. It aims to see whether access to nutritious food, coupled with community-based healthcare support, can help prevent low birth weight and child stunting – issues that can have lifelong impacts.

Stunting, which can irreversibly affect a child’s cognitive development, educational success, and overall health, remains one of South Africa’s most urgent but often unseen challenges.

Khulisa Care supports mothers from pregnancy through the first six months of their baby’s life. This a critical window when proper nutrition can set the foundation for lifelong health and development.

Premier Alan Winde said the pilot reflected the Western Cape Government’s commitment to supporting residents throughout their lives, beginning even before birth. Because the foundations for healthier communities are laid long before a child enters school or reaches adulthood.

Led by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, in partnership with the Department of the Premier and the DG Murray Trust, and supported by the Grow Great Campaign and Shoprite, Khulisa Care is a promising proof-of-concept pilot.

Participating mothers receive monthly grocery vouchers to buy nourishing, protein-rich foods such as eggs, beans, fortified maize meal, peanut butter, milk, amasi, pilchards, tuna, and soya products. This is complemented by primary healthcare, growth monitoring, health education, mental health support, and regular contact with dedicated community health workers.

Early reports have indicated that most mothers use around R420 of the available R550 voucher each month. Popular purchases include beans, long-life full-cream milk, tinned pilchards, and tuna.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger said the milestone was encouraging.

“Reaching over 2,000 mothers is a meaningful milestone, helping us understand how best to support mothers and their babies. We are testing whether this approach can effectively address low birth weight, a key factor in child stunting.”

Women remain in the programme until their babies are six months old, receiving vital support during the period when many families are still waiting to access the Child Support Grant. Wenger highlighted that this support upholds a mother’s dignity during pregnancy and the early months of her child’s life, giving each child a stronger start.

The pilot has enabled valuable learning about how such a community-support system operates on the ground. With a proactive and collaborative learning approach, challenges are identified, and solutions are developed in partnership. The Department and its allies continue to refine the process and enhance the experiences of participating mothers.

Enrolment closes in September 2026, but mothers already enrolled will continue to receive support for the full duration of the programme. Thereafter, the Department and partners will evaluate whether to expand this empowering initiative.

By caring for mothers during pregnancy and the early days of their babies’ lives, this pilot is directly helping build healthier children, stronger families, and a brighter future for the Western Cape.