IBFANA - South Africa
About IBFAN Africa (The International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) was founded in 1979)
It is a network of 273 groups in 168 countries. IBFAN is a worldwide network that works on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), maternal health, nutrition and food security. The network strongly supports improved health, optimum nutrition of infants, young children and their families by protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding, appropriate, safe and adequate complementary feeding practices using local foods. IBFAN provides technical assistance at different levels of care for various countries.
One of IBFAN’s key roles is assisting countries to implement and monitor the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes (BMS) and its subsequent World Health Assembly Resolutions. IBFAN also assists governments to both develop national legislations and to hold companies accountable for irresponsible advertising and marketing of BMS. The IBFAN Africa Regional Office is referred to as IBFANA since its registered in South Africa
Services
Contact our team
Nomajoni Ntombela
Chairperson / Technical Advisor
Nomajoni has extensive experience inreproductive health, maternal and child health, HIV and AIDS, PMTCT, maternal nutrition, Infant, and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), Infant Feeding in Emergencies and Early Childhood Development. Appointed as IBFAN Africa Regional Co-ordinatorin 1990, Nomajoni provided critical technical input on HIV and AIDS, PMTCT, policy development, the International Code including national laws, the BFHI to countries in sub-Saharan Africa. During this period, she collaborated with UNICEF, WHO, and WABA and she is recognized as a global leader in IYCF and PMTCT programs. Besides working on the International Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, Nomajoni has helped with advocacy, communications, and counselling.
As a Resident Advisor for the USAID funded Project in Zambia from 1998 Nomajoni led the development and implementation of the Ndola Demonstration Project, a first-of-its-kind program implemented at the primary health care level to address HIV testing, PMTCT, and IYCF through clinical- and community-based interventions. As a Regional Technical Director, she led the expansion of the project to nine countries in the west, east, central, and southern Africa.
- She was later appointed as Technical Director for Nutrition Assessment, Counselling, and Support (NACS) program in South Africa, integrating nutrition and HIV including IYCF into routine health facility- and community services in all nine SA provinces.
Sithembiso Mnisi
Program Manager
Sithembiso’ areas of expertise include clinical dietetics, advanced HIV clinical management, Senior BFHI national assessor, Lactation Management Trainer of trainers, Implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes, and a servant of God.
He joined IBFAN-Africa as the Program Manager in 2018 and brings17 years of experience in the field of dietetics (therapeutic diets, community nutrition, organization management, and foodservice administration), research science, descriptive and analytic epidemiology, advanced expertise in HIV clinical management and a Master trainer on the International Code of Marketing Breastmilk Substitutes.
He accumulated his extensive experience in the field of nutrition through working for the South African Departments of Health and Correctional Services, Kagiso Khulani Food Services, Sasol Company Group, Nutrition Dietetics Practice, Universities (SMU and UP), and FHI 360 International company, and his Non-Governmental Organization.
Sylvia Kimmie
Program Associate
In Sylvia’s capacity as a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning Administrator, Program Officer, and Associate, Procurement Officer, Travel, Logistics, and Admin Manager, she gained knowledge in the administration field, developing budgets, financial and administrative systems controls, data management systems, procurement and logistical arrangements.
From the years 2008-2012, she undertook a lead in the administration, capturing, processing of rapid assessment data in 14 Districts in 7 Provinces of South Africa. She has worked with international teams from East, Central, and Southern Africa on various events and programs. Sylvia has strong planning, coordination, and exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage and multitask across a range of functions. She has worked with individuals at various levels of seniority and across several culturally diverse backgrounds.
Sylvia joined IBFAN-Africa in 2018 as the Program Associate and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience over a broad spectrum of administrative skills.
881 Mastiff Street, Garsfontein, Pretoria 0081, Gauteng, South Africa.
+27 82 454 8043
+27 82 454 8043