Dr Lisanne du Plessis says her entire life has been in preparation for what she is doing now. "I remember how, as a child, I looked on while my mother, a nurse in her younger days, gave TB medication to a woman and her son. She would first give them something to eat in the morning, and then give them the medicine that she got from the mobile clinic.

"She also encouraged all women to breastfeed their babies. She breastfed her own three children in a time when so-called 'more convenient' methods were already available."

Today, Du Plessis is a senior lecturer in community nutrition at the Division of Human Nutrition in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University (SU).

She is also one of South Africa's leading advocates for infant and young-child nutrition, and was recently recognised for her contribution to this field by the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA). She received the ADSA award for excellence in research and service, the first of its kind, during the Nutrition Congress in September this year. This event is jointly hosted by the Nutrition Society of South Africa and ADSA every two years.

"On a professional level, I'm extremely proud to have received recognition from my peers in the field for which I have so much passion.

"On a personal level, it's a very humbling 'wow' moment! I still have so much to do and to learn. I celebrated the recognition with wonderful colleagues who have crossed my path and who support me unconditionally."

Du Plessis has contributed to over 25 accredited research articles as well as many presentations at international and national congresses. She believes there still is a need for research on factors that would bring about behavioural change in various stakeholders so as to ensure optimal infant and young-child nutrition. And she is not shying away from this challenge. "I want to take on that research!"

Her wish is ultimately for every mother, father, grandmother, family member, workplace, business, media agency and government department to support optimal infant and young-child nutrition.

"Currently, the topic is enjoying attention on the global, national and implementation levels, and rightly so. Leaders in the fields of science, economics and public health all agree that nutrition in the first 1 000 days of a child's life is one of the best investments we can make to ensure sustained development and health. This is tremendously encouraging! It also further spurs my passion to work in this amazing field with pride."

*Dr Du Plessis was president of ADSA from 2002 to 2004 and joined SU in 2003.