Nutrition and peer support for HIV+ patients

Today, on African Food and Nutrition Security day, I would like to share some statistics from our Nutrition and Peer Support program for HIV+ patients:

Our program is constantly growing, and as you can see, over the past few months, kids account for over half of all participants. What do kids do while their mom's cook? Well, like kids everywhere, they get into trouble mostly! Luckily, there are plenty of older siblings and other adults around to keep an eye on them. (Alason, in the photos below, has a special way of constantly making a mess!)

Kids in Sikoro are growing up with GAIA's nutrition program. Last month we received a donation from an NGO called "Vitamin Angels" to provide multivitamins to HIV+ women and their children. This is a great initiative, but the scope of malnutrition in Mali is vast, and there is still lots to be done.

Eating together in Mali is not only crucial for families that suffer from lack of nutrition, but it is also a symbolic gesture that reduces stigma among the HIV+ population.  

On this day of food awareness, please consider supporting our program that provides twice weekly meals to HIV+ women and their children at our clinic in Mali. 

 "Bon appetit!" Your support means the world to us!

I feel proud about the improvements we made to the nutritional program in the past year with your help:

*We increased the program from once a week to twice a week.

*We renewed cooking materials with new pots and bowls so that the meal can be shared with more clinic staff.

*We built a roof over the cooking area so that the women and their kids would be protected from sun and rain.

All of these initiatives were requested by the women themselves and funded by you, loyal supporters of this program. I feel grateful that GAIA is able to help in such an immediate way. By listening to our constituents, we are able to ensure that you, the donors, make the biggest possible impact. 

The HIV+ women are very grateful for this program as well. I can tell from the way they laugh and share stories together while they cook and catch up with their friends. Their lives are full of many hardships, and the twice-weekly gathering is a time to relax among their peers while the kids play together and keep an eye on their younger siblings. The women have plenty more suggestions on how to improve this program, and we intend to keep listening and facilitating improvements. 

Please know that your gift has made a difference in these Malian women's lives, and please consider continuing your support of this program.

We thank you!