Good nutrition is essential for health and wellbeingof the individuals. People with bad nutritional status are easy to be infected by various diseases including HIV. Studies have found that PLHIV with good nutritional status can better tolerate ARVs, maintain a healthy weight, and overall feel better.

Good nutrition status depends on many things, including; What type of food you eat and how much of it? How is the food cooked? And how is your body utilizing nutrients?

ZAPHA+ is implementing nutritional project for many years. The Nutrition project designed to strengthen the provision education on nutrition both theory and practicals. The project is also focused on the provision of the training on food preparation including cooking provision of food assistance to underprivileged children and women Living with HIV and AIDS. The project is sponsored by the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) of Canada.

A total of 45 caregivers (30 Unguja, 15Pemba) were given 25kg of   rice  10 kg of beans , and  5kg of sugar  quarterly  .  The support helped them in promoting their health status that hence encourage in adhering with ARV medication.  The vulnerable children, adolescents and grandmothers received the food support were also given a monthly bus fees to attended at the care and treatment clinics.

This was also a valuable support that contributed to good retention in ART services.  Besides, 20 children and 10 C/ALHIV were visited at their homes. The visited caregivers were encouraged on escorting their children during the CTC days, maintaining the good diet for their children, importance of disclosure and the like.