Nutrition refers to how food is handled, prepared, shared, eaten and ultimately utilised by the body. Foods contain different nutrients that are essential for various body functions, such as: the energy required for breathing; movement, work and temperature control; growth, building, replacement and repair of the body tissues; protecting and fighting against infection and recovery from illness. Good nutrition is therefore a key factor for the maintenance of good health and quality of life for all people. Malnutrition can result from inadequate or excessive intake of one or more nutrients. Poor nutrition reduces a person’s ability to work and be active. It also weakens the immune system leading to frequent illnesses, poor growth and development in children, and an inability to replace and repair body cells and tissues, resulting in severe weight loss. Excessive intake of food leads to excessive weight gain associated with high risk of obesity, heart diseases and high blood pressure.
For people living with HIV (PLHIV), poor nutrition worsens the effects of HIV by further weakening the immune system. This may lead to a more rapid progression of the disease. Moreover, HIV interferes with the ability to access, handle, prepare, eat and utilise food, thus increasing the risk of malnutrition among PLHIV. Food and nutritional intake can affect adherence to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) as well as their effectiveness. Food insecurity and inadequate knowledge of good nutrition can thus impede management of the disease, particularly in resource-constrained settings where HIV is prevalent and health care services remain inadequate.
Good nutrition, on the other hand, gives strength, helps to maintain and improve performance of the immune system thereby protecting the body against infection and delaying progression of the disease. Good nutrition cannot cure AIDS or prevent HIV infection; however, PLHIV who are well-nourished are stronger and better able to fight infections. Good nutrition will also complement and ensure effective antiretroviral treatment.
Compassionate Swaziland works towards providing children LWHA and their parents, nutritional care and support, which includes counselling, education, information-sharing and provision of food through establishment of food gardens, as this is a fundamental component of a comprehensive package of care and support for all PLHIV. Towards this end compassionate Swaziland works towards increasing family income through the establishment of Income Generating Activities (IGAs). This gives PLHIV the opportunity to have access to food of adequate quantity and quality at the individual and household levels as a critical part of their health care.
Compassionate Swaziland provides information to PLWHA on maintaining a varied and healthy diet to help improve the body’s utilization of nutrients thereby contributing to the health of PLHIV. Compassionate Swaziland works closely with HIV positive pregnant mothers to provide them with effective information on nutritional care and support in order to prevent weight loss and malnutrition among vulnerable children. As a result Compassionate Swaziland works closely with a variety of service providers; family members, nurses, doctors, dieticians, extension workers, volunteers, community support workers and others.
