ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, October 11th, 2011 – Balanced nutrition is highlighted as one of the keys to living well for Persons Living with HIV (PLWH).

Speaking in a GIS radio interview as part of a Positive Prevention awareness campaign, National AIDS Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Noelene Levons-Clarke shared the benefits of healthy balanced meals for persons living with HIV.“Balanced meals help to maintain and improve the nutritional status of a PLWH.

Furthermore, balanced nutrition improves and maintains the performance of their immune systems, and complements and reinforces the effectiveness of Anti Retro Viral (ARV) treatments. Additionally, balanced nutrition also delays progression to AIDS-related illnesses,” stated Mrs. Clarke.

She admitted that a few factors may hinder PLWH from being able to consume meals. These include the side effects of the ARV treatment such as nausea and vomiting; being too weak or depressed to prepare meals, or not having sufficient funds to purchase nutritious food.

To combat these side effects and to avoid weight loss or loss of valuable nutrients, clients are advised to consult with their doctors and a nutritionist for suitable meal plans. Additionally, they can eat smaller, more frequent high energy meals such as protein shakes and ground provisions; and increase their intake of rice, cereals, meat, poultry, peas and beans. Clients can also snack on fruits, yogurt, carrots, nuts, sunflower and sesame seeds.

During the radio interview, PLWH were urged to become very familiar with their ARV medications and to know the names of their ARVs; how often they should be taken daily; how the ARVs work to reduce HIV in the body; whether medications should be taken with or without food; expected side effects, and when prescriptions are due for a refill.

The National AIDS Programme Coordinator also spoke on the various types of side effects of ARV regimens and how to manage them. Mrs. Clarke noted that side effects varied among individuals.

She stated, “Some persons can take ARVs for years with few side effects, while others experience problems after months of treatment. Some side effects appear after starting ARV treatment and disappear after a few weeks; for example, nausea, headaches, darkening of the skin and nightmares.”

Other side effects such as nerve or kidney damage, fat redistribution and high blood pressure tend to worsen over time and may never go away. The National AIDS Programme Coordinator encourages clients to speak with their doctors on how to improve the ARV combination to achieve fewer, or more easily tolerated side effects.
For more information on the National AIDS Programme’s Positive Prevention Campaign, please telephone the National AIDS Programme Coordinator at 468-4371 and 468-9785 or email nclarke@gov.vg.

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