Food Security for People Living with HIV/AIDS

There is a close relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty as the poor are least able to cope with the illness and associated costs. AIDS can often result in the increased impoverishment of households through the cost of treatment, lost adult income and funeral expenses among others.

The family is left with reduced means to support themselves and food consumption falls, which can lead to malnutrition amongst children. The lower protein intake increases the susceptibility to infections, which worsens the severity of HIV/AIDS and results in a further deterioration of the nutritional status of the family.

Children are often withdrawn from school to assist in income generation and to care for dying parents and rarely get the chance to resume their education. Many households end up being composed of elderly people and children, who have less decision-making power, less access to resources, less knowledge and less physical strength.

VETAID is working in two districts in northern Tanzania to improve the sustainability of food sources and income for people living with HIV/AIDS and orphaned children.

An assessment carried out by VETAID in early 2008, found that Hai and Siha districts have a large number of people living with HIV/AIDS and orphaned children. The project will work with 600 of the poorest affected families in these districts to address issues including inheritance of farming land and immediate poverty relief.

The families will be given poultry and dairy goats to provide them with a reliable source of nutrition, through meat, eggs and milk. This is particularly important for people living with HIV/AIDS who are on anti-retroviral medication. In addition, the families will be able to supplement their household income through the sale of any excess produce.

Families who receive chickens and goats will also receive basic training in animal health care and the chickens and goats will be regularly vaccinated to prevent disease. The cost of this will initially be covered by VETAID but, after the first generation of chickens are sold, the families themselves will have the funds to be able to vaccinate and feed their animals and birds themselves.

They will also be trained in farming methods suitable for reduced physical ability, which means that people living with HIV/AIDS or families headed by orphaned children or elderly grandparents are able to continue working on their land.

The project will also train community volunteers, village governments and people living with HIV/AIDS on the legal rights of those affected by the virus.  VETAID will also help to establish and provide training and support for the operation of village community banks, giving local people access to loan facilities in order to set up small businesses. 

This project is being implemented in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Arusha and the District councils of Hai and Siha.