Officials from the southern African region are due gather on Monday in South Africa to explore the role of nutrition in the lives of HIV/Aids patients.
Health professionals and traditional healers from the region and officials from the United Nations Children’s Fund and UNAids were among those scheduled to participate.
The Southern African Development Community Conference would look at the use of nutritional supplements for Aids patients — an option that has been put forward by food aid donors, it was reported on Sunday.
Several countries in the region are gripped by food shortages as a result of adverse weather, poor agricultural management and instability, as is the case in Zimbabwe.
UN officials have warned in the face of donor apathy that the high prevalence of HIV/Aids among the region’s adult population and the food crisis are a dangerous combination. – Sapa-DPA