PHA-Exch> NEW UN REPORT SPOTLIGHTS CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN HUNGER, HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Vern Weitzel <vern at coombs.anu.edu.au>
crossposted from: "[health-vn discussion group]" health-vn at cairo.anu.edu.au


NEW UN REPORT SPOTLIGHTS CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN HUNGER, HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS
In a major report released today ahead of
<"
http://www.unaids.org/en/MediaCentre/PressMaterials/FeatureStory/20071128_WAD_statements.asp
">World
AIDS Day, observed on 1 December, the United Nations World Food Programme
(<"http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2701">WFP) has called for
paying
greater attention to the link between hunger and health, pointing out that
food
is often cited as the greatest need by people living with HIV/AIDS.

WFP's <i>World Hunger Series 2007 – Hunger and Health</i> explores the
relationships between hunger and poor health with particular reference to
HIV/AIDS.  It notes that while countries invest billions into
anti-retroviral
treatment (ART) and other medicines to address the pandemic, they overlook
the
fact that people receiving life-saving drugs often lack food and clean
water.

The agency points out that as with any drug, anti-retrovirals are more
effective
when people are adequately nourished, and food support can help ensure that
people who lack food benefit fully from their treatment.

"It is irresponsible to ignore the issue of hunger and malnutrition
particularly
in the battle against AIDS," said WFP Deputy Executive Director Sheila
Sisulu.
 "Why should we write off the benefits of medical interventions simply
because
people are too undernourished to absorb and benefit from the drugs they
desperately need?"

Studies show that people with HIV have special nutritional needs, the agency
says, noting that even when a person consumes enough food, if they lack
certain
vitamins and minerals, their immune system is compromised, making them
vulnerable to infections.

"Food is often cited by people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS as their
greatest and most important need," said Elizabeth Mataka, the
Secretary-General's Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa.

Speaking at a seminar in Rome, at which the report was presented, she added
that "nutrition interventions for HIV programmes are often overlooked in the
international HIV policy debate and they remain critically under-funded."

In a related study, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(<"http://www.unaids.org/en/">UNAIDS) predicts that 900,000 people going
onto
ART in 2008 will require food assistance.  It is estimated that the average
cost
of providing food support to a patient is $0.66 per day – less than 2 per
cent
of the current cost of drug programmes.

WFP, one of the first organizations to provide food assistance alongside ART
in
poor areas, now supports ART programmes in 16 countries in Africa,
benefiting
over 182,000 people. With active HIV/AIDS interventions in 50 countries
worldwide, the agency is providing food assistance in 21 of 25 nations with
the
highest HIV prevalence rates.
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