Nutrition and peer support for HIV+ patients

Summary

Nutrition support for HIV+ patients on Fridays: Several of the patients cook food together, serve the other patients and their children, gathering over a meal to provide each other with peer support.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

We are putting HIV care at the reach of our patients' hands. By this we mean that we have made HIV care accessible to patients living far from "specialized care" in Mali. Our HIV clinic is based at a village infirmary and serves a growing group of extremely poor patients living in a small village on the outskirts of Bamako. GAIA Vaccine Foundation provides care and education about HIV transmission and living with HIV, reducing stigma and improving HIV prevention in the village.

How will this project solve this problem?

We purchase food that is cooked by our patients who share the meal with their peer group, HIV- children and doctors. Sharing a meal with the staff reduces stigma. Improving the nutritional status of our patients is an essential aspect of HIV care.

Potential Long Term Impact

Morry is one of our patients. In 2008 he heard about the HIV clinic and the Friday meals, so he came to be fed. He is now a regular member of the nutrition group and is doing much better! See pictures.Your support can help other patients like him!

Project Message

Even if we had a horse we could not keep up with you and all of the good work you [GAIA VF] are doing.
- Mamadou NIARE, Chief of Sikoro

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources

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