[pronut-hiv] WFP's nutrition/food security and HIV/AIDSinterventions in DRC (2)

["Claire Bader" <Clare.Bader@wfp.org>]

hello

I have forwarded your email to my collegue in DRC and hope he will contact 
you directly. If he does not please do not hesitate to contact me, I am 
based in Mozambique and am in contact with Susan the SADC Concern regional 
HIV person.

regards
Claire

---"Anni Fjord" wrote:

Can someone please help me with more information on the  WFP's  DRC
programme. Any contact address?

 
[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 frontline 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.]

Best regards,
 
Anni Fjord
Central Africa Regional
HIV&AIDS Advisor
Concern Worldwide
P.O.Box 6599
Kampala, Uganda
Email: anni.fjord@concern.net
Mobile + 256 77642667
 

-----ProNut-HIV wrote:

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 targetgroup 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.