July 29, 2011

Drought Threatens Health of HIV-Positive People in Africa

Severe drought in the Horn of Africa could lead to starvation for millions of people and jeopardize the health of people with HIV/AIDS, PlusNews reports. More than 11.6 million people are facing starvation in Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia. Lack of food is a widely acknowledged barrier to successful antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. A 2010 Ugandan study found that ARVs increased respondents’ appetite and that side effects were worse without food. Also, people living with HIV in pastoralist communities often share water with animals, putting them at higher risk of contracting water-borne diseases, diarrohoeal diseases, skin conditions and other opportunistic infections.

To read the PlusNews article, click here. 

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