Doctors say eating a balanced diet containing proteins, carbohydrates and fats, among others, prolongs one’s life

By Gilbert Kidimu

FOOD insecurity may have no borders but its effects are far more consequential for those bound up in other predicaments. And for people living with HIV/AIDS, the effects of food insecurity are profound.

Sandra Karungi, a woman living with HIV, says antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are too strong to be taken on an empty stomach. “They always give me a huge appetite.

I have to eat a lot to keep up with the body’s demands following my daily doses of the treatment. Whenever I do not eat, I get really weak,” she says.
Researchers believe hungry or malnourished HIV/AIDS patients are six times more likely to die than those taking ARVs and have the basic healthy food they need to survive.

“Malnutrition reduces a person’s ability to absorb medicine and cope with side effects such as dizziness and vomiting. It also delays the body’s ability to recover and sustainably build immunity to infection and disease,” says Dr. Bernard Etukoit, the programme management director at The AIDS Support Organisation Uganda.

He adds that even a healthy person needs to feed right to stay in good shape because poor feeding will have harsh effects on the individual. “With an HIV-positive person, there are increased nutritional demands due to immense loss of nutrients since the body is rebuilding itself due to vomiting, poor digestion and loss of appetite.

The demands are dramatically increased.” Etukoit adds that an AIDS patient may be suffering from 3-4 illnesses which intensify nutritional demands on the body — the condition adds onto already existing natural demands.

Sometimes complications come with poor intake due to sores in the mouth, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite. “As the immune system begins to build up due to ARVs, there comes a gap that will need to be filled.

Their wellbeing becomes better hence a good appetite. A number of functions improve because the individual is getting better.

The foremost food nutrients are proteins which build the body, carbohydrates meant to provide energy, fats for heat and energy and water containing most of the minerals.

Vitamins are found in fish and fruits like oranges and green vegetables. Lack of certain nutrients leads to certain disease conditions. For example, lack of proteins leads to kwashiorkor, malnutrition, putting the patient at a great risk.

“Poor nutrition is essentially the cause of poor immunity. It becomes a double danger,” Etukoit says.

People suffering from diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer also have lower immunity since such diseases shut down the immune system.

Basic functions of the body like brain function, heart beat, and breathing are affected. “You need energy to power those systems,” he adds.

Etukoit argues that it is not hard to access the right nutrition since everyday Ugandan foods contain all these food values. “Milk has the required nutrients.

Peas, beans, soy beans are highly rich in proteins, while posho, rice, yams and sweet potatoes are highly rich in carbohydrates.”

You will find vitamins in greens and fruits. Fish, beef and vegetable oil are sources of proteins. Most of these foods are available locally and affordable. Minerals are found in food prepared with water although one needs enough of pure water taken separately.

Exercising often is also important in boosting one’s health, according to Etukoit. It helps to eliminate excess calories, a host of diseases associated with overweight like heart disease, diabetes and joint pains, especially in the knees.

Exercises also improve blood circulation and help in rapid clearance of poisonous substances.

Etukoit says in the case of AIDS, when one has a symptom, it is the same as being demobilised. “When one is under treatment, they spend a lot of money treating related illnesses.

They are thus left broke and in dire need of support, especially regarding food which is the basic need. “They need support to produce food since for sick people, food is at the frontline in the treatment process,” says Etukoit.