Moezna Jacobs

Moezna Jacobs is a Public Health Professional, qualified Dietitian, and Senior Programme Manager with over 15 years of experience in nutrition, maternal and child health, HIV & TB programmes, health systems strengthening, and community-based healthcare services. She currently serves as Senior Programme Manager at Kheth’Impilo, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight for Integrated Health and Wellness programmes across multiple subdistricts in the Western Cape. In this role, she leads programme implementation, quality improvement, stakeholder engagement, operational governance, and multidisciplinary teams to strengthen community health outcomes and drive sustainable impact.

Moezna holds a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of the Western Cape and a Master of Philosophy in Infant Mental Health from Stellenbosch University. Her master’s research explored the relationship between infant malnutrition and maternal mental health in home-based care settings, reflecting her commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable children, caregivers, and communities.

Throughout her career, she has worked across government, academic, and non-profit sectors, leading initiatives in nutrition service delivery, maternal and child health, community health worker development and integrated primary healthcare. A passionate advocate for workforce development and knowledge exchange, Moezna serves as a mentor and supervisor to students, interns, and visiting professionals. Through Kheth’Impilo’s partnerships with local and international academic institutions, she facilitates learning opportunities for students from around the world, managing expectations and creating meaningful exposure to community-based healthcare practice, public health programming and the South African health system. She is committed to fostering cross-cultural learning experiences that connect global health theory with practical implementation in resource-constrained settings.

Moezna has served as a guest lecturer at Stellenbosch University, supervised healthcare trainees, and contributed to research initiatives focusing on maternal health, HIV, infant mental health, and the role of community care workers in emergency and disaster response. She has presented her work at national and international conferences, including the World Public Health Nutrition Congress in London and continues to champion evidence-based, person-centred approaches that strengthen health systems and improve the wellbeing of underserved communities.