WFP: Rising food prices hits HIV patients hardest
30/06/2008
The rising cost of food in many African nations is affecting people who are living with HIV/Aids the most, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.
According to WFP coordinator Gideon Cohen, poor nutritional intake can significantly weaken the body's natural defences again HIV, hastening the onset of Aids-related illnesses.
The UN has repeatedly warned that in countries such as Ethiopia there is growing evidence of ordinary civilians skipping meals and cutting out "luxuries" such as vegetables.
Runaway food price inflation is largely being blamed for the trend and with little prospect for an improvement on the horizon many health experts are warning it will be the sick and vulnerable who suffer the most.
Speaking to humanitarian news agency IRIN/PlusNews, Addis Ababa resident Bellatu Bakane confirmed that lessening affordability of food was forcing many to make cutbacks in their diet.
"I get angry because every time I go food prices are higher," the 38-year old mother of three said. "Because food prices are increasing, we are eating less."
Like almost eight per cent of Ethiopia's population, Ms Bakane is HIV positive. Although she currently receives lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART), Dr Cohen warns that its full benefits will not be realised in people who cannot maintain a healthy diet.
"ART can't work if people aren't eating enough," he told IRIN/PlusNews. "This is where food prices impact more strongly on them."
Food prices have risen by 40 per cent in Ethiopia over the past year, according to the country's Central Statistical Agency, with the price of some staples such as wheat skyrocketing by over 275 per cent.
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