Title: Food crisis in Cambodia.

POPLINE Document Number: 314832

Source citation:

Lancet, 2007 Mar 31;369(9567):1056.

Abstract:

Cambodia is facing a food crisis. Since October, 2006, a drop in donations has forced the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to progressively reduce the number of people it can provide food assistance to in the country, which includes 70 000 people with HIV/AIDS and 18 000 people with tuberculosis. Food is important for everyone, but it can help HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis patients in several direct and indirect ways. Optimum nutrition in a digestible form can help maintain health and prevent weight loss in HIV/AIDS patients, who are at increased risk of malnutrition because of a loss of appetite, eating difficulties, malabsorption of micronutrients, and an increased metabolic rate. Food may also help mitigate the side-effects of taking drugs on an empty stomach, thereby improving adherence to treatment. According to the WFP, food aid can be an incentive for tuberculosis patients to attend health-care centres for treatment. And food, combined with medical treatment, might help improve survival of HIV/AIDSpatients. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Cambodia
Progress Report
Recommendations
Evaluation
Persons Living With HIV/AIDS
Food Supply
Famine
Foreign Aid
HIV Infections
Tuberculosis
Nutrition
Metabolic Effects
Vitamins and Minerals
Antiretroviral Therapy
Developing Countries
Asia, Southeastern
Asia
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Natural Resources
Environment
Financial Activities
Economic Factors
Infections
Health
Physiology
Biology
HIV