UNAIDS - 11 August 2009

The widespread recognition of food and nutrition as a critical component of the global AIDS response has come after prolonged advocacy by WFP and others. Optimizing the nutritional status of people living with HIV is a scientifically recognized best practice. Without proper nutrition, people living with HIV become malnourished and treatment is less effective. WFP is placing greater emphasis on the integration of nutritional care in the health sector.

Since each country's HIV epidemic is different, national AIDS responses need to reflect reality and address the context of unique risks and vulnerabilities. For WFP, the UNAIDS advocacy message, "Know your epidemic, know your response" means that national AIDS responses will include a nutrition and food component when appropriate.

In Asia, there are an estimated 5.0 million people living with HIV. Viral transmission focuses on vulnerable populations susceptible to infection such as sex workers or injecting drug users. In this context, WFP's action on AIDS reflects the epidemic trend with activities such as the inclusion of mitigation and safety nets for these most at risk populations in national action plans and poverty reduction strategies.

Dr Martin W. Bloem, Head of WFP's Nutrition and HIV/AIDS Policy, led the satellite session, entitled 'Models for integrating nutrition and food security into HIV treatment, care and support in the Asia region: Opportunities and challenges'. He was joined by three additional speakers: Professor Emeritus Praphan Phanuphak, Director, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre; Dr Angela Kelly, Team Leader, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research; and Ms Kaniz Fatima, Project Officer and HIV Focal Point, WFP Bangladesh.

They shared their expertise and knowledge on the impact of nutrition and food security for people living with the virus; opportunities and challenges related to nutrition programme design and the development of HIV nutrition guidelines; and priorities for future strategies.

Resources:

IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific - http://www.icaap9.org/

Policy and guidance:

Nutrition and food security - Technical policies of the UNAIDS Programme - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PolicyGuidance /Techpolicies/nutrit_technical_policies.asp

Nutrition and food security - Key operational guidelines of the UNAIDS Programme - http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/PolicyGuidance /OperationGuidelines/nutrit_operational_guidelines.asp

Related information:

More on ICAAP09 - http://www.unaids.org/en/Conferences/2009/9_ICAAP.asp

Asia - http://www.unaids.org/en/CountryResponses/Regions/Asia.asp

Cosponsors:

WFP - http://www.wfp.org/

Feature stories:

African Union summit focuses on economic growth and food security (02 July 2009) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2009/UN090704.html

Swaziland: WFP supports families living with HIV (08 June 2009) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2009/UN090606.html

HIV and high food prices (01 April 2009) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2009/UN090401.html

The impact of nutrition and HIV: World Food Programme (26 November 2008) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2008/UN081120.html

New UNAIDS policy on HIV, food security and nutrition (21 May 2008) - http://www.aegis.org/news/unaids/2008/UN080509.html

Publications:

UNAIDS Policy Brief - HIV, food security and nutrition (pdf, 244 Kb) - http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2008/jc1515_policy_brief_nutrit ion_en.pdf

UNAIDS Policy Brief - HIV, food security and nutrition (expanded version) (pdf, 247 Kb) - http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/2008/jc1565_policy_brief_nutrit ion_long_en.pdf

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