[pronut-hiv] WFP's nutrition/food security and HIV/AIDS interventions in DRC

["ProNut-HIV" <pronut-hiv@healthnet.org>]

WFP's nutrition/food security and HIV/AIDS interventions in Democratic Republic of Congo  

This is a summary of a presentation that was given in the Central Africa Nutrition Focal Point Network Meeting in Brazzaville on July 2005 by Patrice Badibanga, /WFP/DRC

WF in DRC launched in 2003 a program to provide food to people living with HIV/AIDS in DRC. The goal of the program was to enhance the nutritional status of people living with HIV/AIDS and to reduce mortality in the target group. The food distributed provided 2282,7kcal/day and included cereals, dried legumes, and fortified oil, corn soy blend, sugar and salt. The target group included people who had tested positive to HIV and who were on ARVs and using the treatment center supported by WFP. WF in DRC has launched other food and nutrition programs targeting orphans and widows in the country. The providers in the treatment center are in charge of the counseling and follow up of the enrolled people living with HIV/AIDS. Community volunteers are involved through home visits, and help with education, sensitization and follow up counseling. Quarterly meetings are held to discuss issues/problems encountered by providers. 

To assess the nutritional recovery of the enrolled clients, the program monitors their BMI, middle arm circumference. In 2004, the program reached out to 21693 beneficiaries including 9833 widows and 14404 orphans. To prepare the clients to exit from the program, 24451 beneficiaries has been trained either in enhanced agricultural techniques or  designing and implementing income generating activities. 

WFP's initiative in DRC has led to the creation in January 2005 of a working group to develop the guidelines on nutrition and care for people living with HIV/AIDS. The working group has drafted a nutrition counseling manual for PLWHA to be used by community volunteers. In Kinshasa, a network of front line organisations providing food and nutrition and care to PLWHA in Kinshaha has also been  created. The goal is to promote the sharing of experience. A guidelines on food and nutrition in the context of HIV/AIDS is being developed.

The major challenges include the need:
-To strengthen the capacity of the providers
-To harmonize and scale up food and nutrition activities
-For refining eligibility criteria and for designing an exit strategy.