Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS - Groups - Action Tools

Message

From:	Gabriel ADEYEMO [ profile ]
Subject:	Zimbabwe: Food voucher scheme benefits HIV-positive people
Sent:	Oct 24th, 2011 - 12:13:35

	Source:* IRIN/PlusNews* http://www.plusnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94024 Vulnerable people living with HIV in Zimbabwe are benefiting from an electronic voucher scheme being used to fight malnutrition among people on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and their families by providing them with nutritious food. The system, introduced by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented by the health ministry and NGOs, involves identifying malnourished patients who are then given electronic vouchers to buy food at specific shops. The country's economic collapse in the past decade has significantly strained the ability of poor HIV-positive Zimbabweans to feed themselves and their families when on ARVs. An estimated 570,000 Zimbabweans are receiving the medication; HIV prevalence - one of the world's highest - is 13 percent. Prices remain comparatively high for families with low incomes and little or no access to US dollars, despite the improved availability of food... The programme supports about 5,000 patients and their families with essential food items and is operating at seven health facilities in the capital and has been extended to the second-largest city, Bulawayo. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Help from Germany (HfG) are the implementing NGO partners working with the health ministry. Patients on ARVs or TB treatment who are malnourished are referred to register with the scheme. During registration, adults' weight and height are measured to determine body mass while children have their upper arm circumference measured to determine if they are malnourished. Beneficiaries then have to answer questions that help establish if their households are food insecure. Patients are given vouchers, in the form of scratch cards similar to mobile phone airtime cards, which they take to designated retail outlets for specific rations that are "good for one month and for a maximum family size of five people", in addition to 10kg of corn soya blend they receive at registration. The rations comprise maize-meal, beans and vegetable oil and beneficiaries receive the food aid for six months but that period is extended if they are still malnourished. "A big number of patients on ARVs come from poor and vulnerable households that cannot afford nutritious food and this makes the e-voucher system very essential," AIDS activist Martha Tholanah told IRIN/PlusNews. "But there is a need to go beyond addressing current problems such as malnourishment and ensure that patients receive help that enables them to sustain themselves and their families through income-generating projects," she cautioned. Quite interesting i guess? More stories available on the link above -- Many Thanks Yours' in Prevention Science Gabriel, ADEYEMO Regional Focal Point - West Africa Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID (GYCA) +234-80-6798-7317 \| gabriel (at) gyca.org www.gyca.org \| www.tigweb.org GYCA is a youth-led global network of over 6,000 young leaders and adult allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 173 countries world-wide. GYCA's mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge, resources and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions amongst their peers. Universal Access is possible; * Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS-related deaths.*

		Groups Powered by TakingITGlobal