In the nation of Lesotho—a country, enclosed entirely within South Africa, that has one of the world’s highest HIV rates—a support group called Positive Professionals is helping steer people living with the virus toward employment, BBC News reports (newsvote.bbc.co.uk).
According to the BBC, the group, started by Matseliso Lebakae, found full- and part-time employment for 20 positive people in its first six weeks. Lebakae owns Positive Health, a nutrition and health food shop that advertises through posters and radio spots.
"Many HIV-positive people come to my shop and tell me that on ART [antiretroviral therapy] they are now healthy and strong and want to work," Lebakae told the BBC. "We are just appealing to the country to help them get back into work and contribute to society rather than just providing them with a handout to help them survive."
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"I'm HIV positive and diabetic (as well as have high cholesterol) and some of my meds specify taking them with 'high fat foods' which I have to do twice a day. I've eaten as healthy as possible, but when it comes to high fat foods, I am in a quandary...about what to eat sometimes..."
