Rising food costs may impede African HIV programs, The Press Association reports (ukpress.google.com, 7/28).

According to the article, poor diets have weakened antiretroviral treatment. Some patients end treatment to avoid medical costs and—in some cases—to buy food, according to the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), the British aid agency raising the alarm.

"The current food crisis is seriously threatening the progress the world has made on combating HIV,” says Ann Smith, HIV corporate strategist for CAFOD. “Those of us working with people who are HIV positive must make sure that they are receiving an adequate diet, if necessary by providing nutritional support.”