TOGETHER, WE CAN TAKE A STEP FURTHER TOWARDS A BETTER, HUNGER FREE WORLD
                                       International Aids Conference

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                                                       Toronto, Canada, 13-18 August

The scientific and humanitarian community recognises the relationship between hunger and HIV/AIDS

 

  • The presentation of Action Against Hunger’s delegation concerning the link between AIDS and hunger was welcomed in Toronto

Action Against Hunger is involved in a concerted effort to address the links between malnutrition and HIV/AIDS through clinical research and reviewing Action Against Hunger’s approach in countries affected by the HIV pandemic. From its current field activities, Action Against Hunger had the honour to present three posters and one oral presentation at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto. The presentations look at findings from the organisation’s Malawi research concerning acceptability of HIV testing, impact of HIV on mortality, the relevance of using CD4 levels as criteria to start Anti-retroviral therapy in severely malnourished children as well as qualitative research looking at family perceptions of quality of care and HIV stigma of the severely malnourished child. Malawi is situated in the epicentre of the pandemic, with a HIV index of 14% among the population; 17% of malnourished children are sero-positive.

The oral presentation research findings was well received an appreciated for the scientific quality and perspectives for improving treatment of severely malnourished, HIV infected children. Action Against Hunger continues its research in Malawi in collaboration with the Centre for International Child Health in London.

Presentations at the conference also highlighted the relationship between poverty and HIV/AIDS as well as the role of women, who are the main victims of the illness and often lack resources. In Africa, 75% of newly infected people are women. Development of legal frameworks, development and training, and hope arising from new microbicide treatment are assisting empowerment and reduction of vulnerability in women.

Abstracts of the presentations can be found on the Toronto website.

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