Poverty is claiming little lives
Cry for help
A woman with a child is begging at the corner of Kelvin and Rivonia roads, near Morningside in Johannesburg. This week in Parliament, Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi shared alarming statistics during a Q&A session that highlight the urgency of this situation: 155 children under the age of five in South Africa have died due to moderate or severe acute malnutrition as an underlying condition.
Image: Picture: Boxer Ngwenya Independent Newspapers
You've likely seen them – the children at busy intersections and along our main roads. They are a stark reminder of the challenges our country and the world face.
These children, some as young as two, often in tattered clothes and without shoes, have been forced into begging. Their silent desperation reflects a critical issue that demands our attention.
This week in Parliament, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi shared alarming statistics during a Q&A session that further underscore the urgency of this situation: 155 children under the age of five in South Africa have died with moderate or severe acute malnutrition as an underlying condition.
The provinces with the highest numbers of these tragic cases are Limpopo, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal, highlighting the widespread nature of this crisis.
We can only imagine the difficult circumstances that led to these tragic losses. Some children may have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves, others may have been orphaned and lack the care they desperately need, or they may be affected by family breakdown, negligence, or a general lack of adequate care and resources within their households. Regardless of the specific reasons behind their plight, we have a collective responsibility as a society to act and provide support where we can.
If you are in a position to help, please consider offering assistance to these vulnerable children. While we understand that we cannot solve every problem, any contribution, no matter how small it may seem, can make a tangible difference in the life of a child in need.
The next time you encounter a child begging on the street, perhaps you could consider offering a piece of fruit, a sandwich, or another form of nourishment. These small acts of kindness can provide immediate relief and let these children know that they are not entirely forgotten.
Our efforts, big a small, may help restore hope and confidence in these young lives, letting them know that brighter days are indeed possible and that there are people who care about their well-being.
As the saying goes, "Half a loaf or slice is better than nothing."