September 2007
The Food Network
by Nicole Joseph
HAART and Harvest cooks up med side-orders
For many living with HIV, a “take with food” med label means microwaving some popcorn or buttering a bagel. But in a cruel irony, poor HIV-positive Africans are finally getting the HIV meds they need—only to lack the food needed to take them comfortably. The Academic Model for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS (AMPATH) program, from the Indiana University and Kenya’s Moi University med schools, has launched HAART and Harvest Initiative, which gets food into positive Kenyans’ regimens. After a consultation, patients get a prescription for meds and meals. “We have several farms that yield seven tons of veggies a week,” says Fran Quigley, director of the IU-Kenya Partnership. AMPATH has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize; the winner will be announced in October.
