UN food agency calls for attention to nutrition’s role in fighting AIDS

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today called on the humanitarian community to recognize the importance of good nutrition in combating HIV/AIDS.

“Food helps interrupt the downward spiral of malnutrition, increased fatigue, illness and decreased work productivity,” said Jamie Wickens, WFP’s Deputy Director of Operations. “As important as drugs and education are to combating the disease, food is a first defence that keeps people healthier longer.”

Aiming to call attention to the issue in advance of the XIV International AIDS Conference, which convenes in Barcelona from 7 to 12 July, WFP said without proper nutrition, HIV wears the body down faster and leaves those infected more vulnerable to other kinds of illness, which further increase malnutrition.

Food is also a primary concern for the families of people living with HIV/AIDS, especially when the breadwinner falls ill. WFP said that food consumption has been shown to drop by as much as 40 per cent in households affected by the epidemic.

“When you’re poor and you can no longer work and support your family, your biggest fear is where your next meal will come from,” explained Mr. Wickens, calling on donors to “drastically increase” support for WFP’s efforts in the HIV/AIDS arena.