Given that HIV severely affects the immune system, people infected with the virus are very vulnerable to all kinds of other infections. Therefore, it is important that they keep their body as strong and healthy as possible by making sure they get all the nutrients a person needs. Not only do they require greater energy intake from food, they also need easily digestible food, says Dr. Leonard Gakindi from King Faisal hospital, adding that a balanced diet consists of ingredients from all the important food groups.

Adequate food support makes patients adhere better to medication.

Since no food alone provides all the nutrients the body needs, Dr. Gakindi explains that HIV patients should have at least 6 to 11 servings per day of grain products such as bread, cereal, and rice; 3 to 5 servings of vegetables; 2 to 4 servings of fruit; 2 to 3 servings of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese; 2 to 3 servings of high-protein foods such as meat, fish, eggs, and legumes (peas and beans); and small amounts of oil and sugar.

Apart from not further weakening the body by an inadequate diet, good eating habits have other advantages for HIV patients. Experience from the World Food Program (WFP) in Rwanda and the region has shown that adequate food support to patients makes them adhere better to medication, respond quicker to treatment, and empowers the immune system.

Therefore, the WFP has decided to expand its food for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) program to include an additional 10,000 people living with HIV in 64 project sites.

The program, which was started in 2008, will provide dietary support through food packages consisting of corn soya blend, vegetable oil and sugar during the first six months of treatment for HIV patients. It might expand further depending on the food support gaps identified by health agencies.

"The support from the community as a whole is required for people living with HIV," says Abdoulaye Balde, the WFP country director. "Therefore, WFP will deliver food items directly to the identified health facilities where ART services are provided."