Nutrition and peer support for HIV+ patients

Our Nutrition and Peer Support Program began in 2015. It was created by a group of women living with HIV who felt the need to create a safe environment for other clinic patients and provide access to nutritious meals twice a week. Since the inception, the Nutrition and Peer Support Program has provided 14,160 free and nutrient rich meals to adults, and 13,616 meals to children. 

Improving the nutritional status of our HIV+ patients is crucial to their holistic healthcare. Meals are prepared by HIV positive patients, and shared amongst doctors, children and patients alike to help reduce the stigma attached to the diagnosis. 

As a horrible consequence of HIV, many patients have lost loved ones or become widowed. Fostering the nutritional support groups provides those who have faced hardships with a safe and inviting setting, and to relieve them of the burden of cooking themselves. This is particularly important as food prices rise across the African continent. 

For a donation of $10, you would be providing one weekly meal for a patient living with HIV. For a donation of $30, you would be providing a weekly meal for a mother and her three children, relieving her of the stress of meal preparation. For a generous donation of $100, you would be providing a weekly meal for 25 patients. We thank you for your continuous support and donations.

The Nutrition and Peer Support for HIV+ Patients program is vital for forging connections within communities and promoting support for those who are immunocompromised. GAIA Vaccine Foundation supports the program by purchasing food which is prepared by the Association d’Espoir, a group of patients living with HIV, and then shared with other patients and community members. Doctors and the children of patients also join, helping add to the sense of community and support, 

This ongoing program has made HIV care accessible for patients living far away from specialized treatment in Mali. GAIA Vaccine Foundation’s HIV clinic is based in a village infirmary and serves a growing number of impoverished HIV patients on the outskirts of Mali’s capital, Bamako. Within the Nutrition and Peer Support for HIV+ Patient program, GAIA Vaccine Foundation works to diminish the strong stigma surrounding HIV through education, awareness and prevention.     

Many patients have been widowed, or suffered great loss through the contraction of HIV. This program provides a sanctuary for those who have experienced loss, and a safe space to raise awareness as well as educate how to  prevent HIV. Throughout 2022, the Nutrition and Peer Support HIV+ Patients program held 105 meetings, which resulted in 294 individuals scheduling HIV doctor’s appointments. In total, the program served 2,012 meals to adults, and 1,611 meals to children. 

This ongoing project continues to reach many impoverished individuals, and works to not only educate, but also raise awareness and prevent the spread of HIV through community events. For a donation of only $10, you would be providing a weekly meal for an HIV+ patient. For a donation of $30, you would be providing a mother and her three children their weekly meal. We thank you for your support, it is greatly appreciated.