Food, nutrition and HIV: what’s next?

This briefing paper outlines the various ways in which food and nutritional security is essential in the HIV and AIDS response. It provides some information on Article 28 in the Declaration of Commitment by the United Nations General Assembly Special Session dedicated to HIV and AIDS (UNGASS) and discusses its implications.

Food and nutritional security can slow the progression of the illness, while adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and its efficacy are significantly influenced by access to adequate food and nutrition. Food is also an important aspect of HIV and AIDS prevention programmes, because a lack of adequate food:

• forces people, especially women and girls, into high risk situations where they are more likely to be vulnerable to exposure to HIV infection
• weakens the immune system and generally make a person more susceptible to infections, including HIV
• increases the likelihood of transmission from mother to baby.

The report makes the following recommendations for donors and policy makers:

• programming needs to be holistic and comprehensive. Responses must not be limited to the health sector
• programming and policy that open up opportunities for less risky, less susceptible livelihoods are an essential part of prevention, treatment and care and support. HIV is a disease driven by inequality and poverty. It needs to be addressed and funded with this in mind
• it should be recognised that where Anti-Retroviral Therapy is necessary, food is a key element in strategies to promote adherence to it and its efficacy
• donors and governments need to make better use of available mechanisms to strengthen the links among sectoral policies. This means using poverty reduction strategies and sector plans in new ways. All sectors should be expected to work to minimise risk of HIV transmission and strengthen resilience to AIDS
• a harmonised approach is needed in strategic planning, in line with the ‘Three Ones’ Principles - One agreed AIDS action framework, One national AIDS coordinating authority, One agreed country-level monitoring and evaluation system
• appropriate nutrition and impact indicators should be included in clinical and community surveillance, and in national, regional and international progress reporting
• governments should work in partnership with civil society and other relevant actors to ensure the incorporation of and attention to Article 28 as they set national targets for scaling up to universal access this year.