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National Conference on “Nutrition and HIV/AIDS:
From Knowledge to Action”, Nagpur, 14th
-15th Feb., 2008
The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to
have a devastating impact on health, nutrition, food security and overall
socio-economic development in the countries that have been greatly affected
by the disease. The HIV epidemic is increasingly driven by many of those
factors that also drive under-nutrition- in particular poverty, conflict and
inequality. Nutrition plays a critical role in comprehensive care, support
and treatment of HIV infected people. There are complex interactions between
nutrition and HIV/AIDS. HIV progressively weakens the immune system and leads
to malnutrition. Malnutrition worsens the effects of HIV and contributes to
more rapid progression to AIDS. Those who are ill from HIV infection, from
poor nutrition or both are less able to find work or food to sustain them
selves. In many areas of the world, HIV infection and malnutrition co-exist.
In this regard, a National Conference
was organized by International Life Sciences Institute-India (ILSI) and
supported by a number agencies namely, World Health Organization: Country
Office for India, UN World Food Program, Global Alliance for Improved
Nutrition, Avert Society, USAID-India, National AIDS Control Organization,
National AIDS Research Institute and National Institute of Nutrition.
It was attended by approximately 100
participants from national and international NGOs, UN agencies, academia,
policy makers and representatives of focal institutes pertinent to the issue.
The objectives of the conference were
as given below:
 To examine the importance and impact of
nutrition in HIV/AIDS as well as of HIV/AIDS on the nutritional status of
people affected and infected with HIV/AIDS.
To examine the evidence basis of nutrition
related to HIV/AIDS and recommend guidelines for the nutrient requirements
for men, women, adolescents and children infected with HIV/AIDS.
To discuss the role and strategies for
government, NGOs, corporate sector and international agencies in implementing
nutrition programs for the prevention, care and support of HIV/AIDS
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Strategic Framework for
Action
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