Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of South Africa’s most serious public health challenges, driven by high infection rates, poverty, overcrowding, and its close link to HIV. While treatment is available, many patients struggle to complete the lengthy recovery process because they do not have consistent access to nutritious food.

FoodForward SA recognises that effective TB care goes beyond medicine. Recovery also requires nourishment, dignity, and consistent support to help patients stay on treatment and rebuild their health.

To help address this challenge, FoodForward SA has partnered with the City of Cape Town, ICLEI Africa, Masi Creative Hub, and Local South to pilot a community based TB and nutrition intervention in Cape Town.

The programme provides food insecure TB and HIV positive patients with nutritious food throughout their treatment and recovery period, working alongside local clinics to support patients as they complete their treatment. By addressing food insecurity as part of a broader healthcare response, the initiative aims to strengthen treatment adherence, improve recovery outcomes, and reduce the risk of further transmission within communities.

Following the successful launch in Masiphumelele and Ocean View, the pilot was expanded in June to include Parkwood and Lavender Hill, extending support to two additional clinics and reaching more patients in need. The programme will continue through October 2026.

Beyond providing immediate nutritional support, the pilot is designed to measure health and programme outcomes, generating evidence that can help inform the future expansion of community based TB and nutrition interventions in other regions.

This partnership demonstrates how collaboration between the public sector, civil society, and community organisations can help strengthen health outcomes by ensuring that people have access to the nutritious food they need to recover.