[pronut-hiv] Rwanda: WFP to Boost Anti-Aids War

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

Rwanda: WFP to Boost Anti-Aids War

The New Times (Kigali)

June 25, 2006
Joseph Kamugisha
Kigali

As part of its global effort to combat HIV/Aids, the World Food
Programme (WFP) intends to increase its support to people living with
the deadly virus. The support, according to HIV/Aids programs
coordinator at the WFP country office, Ms Laura Quay,is mainly through
provision of supplementary foodstuffs to vulnerable HIV patients. She
said the world organization would also provide more food support to
malnourished children and disadvantaged refugees. "We are working with
people living with HIV/Aids to improve their livelihoods, support HIV
positive pregnant women and their children, and provide food supplements
to those on anti-retroviral treatment (ART)," she said during an
exclusive interview at her office in Kicukiro.

"Our food rations help people living with HIV/Aids to participate in
training and income generating activities designed to improve their
self-reliance. Other core activities include facilitating voluntary,
confidential counseling and testing (VCCT), and training volunteers in
home-based care," she added.

She added that WFP gives food support to 40,000 Congolese and Burundian
refugees in the region.

The UN organization mainly works in partnership with several local and
international humanitarian agencies. In 2005, it supported a total of
64,915 beneficiaries in 12,983 households.

WFP is also involved in the campaign against transmission of HIV from
mothers to new-born children.