ASIA - A healthy diet is vital in the treatment of people with AIDS

Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) - HIV positive people in Asia will benefit from a campaign to extend public policies to fight the disease and emphasise feeding programmes as part of the treatment.
Some countries in southern and east Asia are aware of the connection between diet and AIDS, but “there are no formal plans at the national level ", said scientist Randa Saadeh, of the World Health Organisation's Diet for Health and Development Section during a meeting in Bangkok to discuss measures to fight AIDS in 2009.
Feeding programmes, vital in the fight against HIV/AIDS, include also preventive measures, prevention of mother/child transmission and attention for patients receiving anti-retroviral drugs.
In general, people with a precarious diet are more vulnerable to HIV. Under nourishment effects the immunological system rendering people more susceptible to diseases like malaria or AIDS.
This latest WHO Campaign in Asia is modelled on a recent initiative in sub-Saharan Africa, epicentre of the AIDS pandemic. The Campaign was launched following a WHO resolution formally recognising the connection between diet and AIDS. The resolution appealed to governments to make diet "an integral part of the response to HIV/AIDS".
Studies carried out in 2006 on 4 million HIV+ people revealed high rates of under nourishment, and sufficient food was identified as a most immediate and critical necessity.
WHO says HIV+ adults and children need 10% more energy in the advanced stage, between 20 and 30 per cent to maintain body weight. HIV+ children who are losing weight, need between 50 and 100% more energy. Under nourishment impairs growth in HIV+ boys and girls, and lack of growth is directly related to infant mortality. Under nourishment is also dangerous for HIV+ mothers. (AP) (23/10/2007Agenzia Fides; Righe:31; Parole:355)