Local Resources for Supporting PLWHA

A series of publications have recently been developed to support those working with PLWHA, produced by the Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC), Kampala, Uganda. Technical input by Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA) and Linkages projects were financially supported by REDSO/ESA (Regional Economic Development Service Office/East and Southern Africa) and USAID.

The series comprises of two booklets that accompany a series of counselling cards as a ready-made flip chart:

• Food and Nutrition Counselling for PLWHA on Antiretroviral Therapy - A job aid for counsellors and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) service providers
• Nutritional Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS - Answers to frequently asked questions
• Nutrition for PLWHA - Counselling cards

The job aid booklet provides step-by-step information to help counsellors and service providers to effectively counsel on nutrition and HIV for PLWHAs on ARVs. The FAQ booklet has answers to commonly asked questions by PLWHAand caregivers on the link between nutrition and HIV/AIDS, dietary intake and food access by PLWHA, ARVs and nutrition, traditional herb therapy and maintaining body composition. The counselling cards are designed for counsellors and health workers to help them in nutrition counselling for PLWHA, such as making informed choices for improving nutrition and using locally available foods to meet their nutritional needs.

Copies of the materials can be obtained from Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (RCQHC), Makerere University Medical School, PO Box 29140, Kampala, Uganda. Tel: 256-41-530888, Fax: 256-41-530876