Nutrition and peer support for HIV+ patients

As Mali transitions into a new government amidst mass protests while COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country, supporting the vulnerable populations in the country has never been more crucial. At GAIA Vaccine Foundation, our work to help eradicate the stigma surrounding HIV+ is not always rooted in explicit access to medical care; sometimes the greatest impact can be found in a home-cooked meal!

In 2008, GAIA VF began our Nutrition and Peer Support program for our HIV+ community in Sikoro. Through this initiative, HIV+ women prepare meals twice a week to an average of 30+ HIV patients and their families. Access to proper meals is an essential medical aspect of HIV+ care, and through the program, GAIA VF hopes to improve the overall nutritional status of our patients. In a broader context, however, this program is essential for helping eradicate the socio-cultural stigma surrounding HIV+. 

Socrates, one of our peer educators, recently explained (in reference to HIV+) that “..the stigma is not eliminated. The stress of that will kill a person. It is not the disease that will kill a person.” These words help contextualize the unfortunate social isolation that many HIV+ women endure, many of whom have been abandoned by their families and fired from their jobs due to the disease. Through the Nutrition and Peer Support program, HIV+ women are concurrently provided nutritional support and psychosocial support. Community support has provided many women in the program a time to relax and form associations to help foster an understanding of HIV/AIDS in Mali. 

Participation in the Nutrition and Peer Support program has been increasing steadily since 2015. There has been a 36 percent increase in attendance in the last five years, and with this growing number of people, community support has never been more essential. According to analysis conducted by the Economic Community of West African States, “the impact of the coronavirus pandemic could increase the number of people at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition from 17 million to 50 million people between June and August 2020.” Due to COVID-19 and the extreme political unrest in the country, it is clear that the nutrition of many Malians- including the vulnerable populations we work with at GAIA- are at stake. Your donation can go a long way in helping us continue running our programs, even amidst this political and social turmoil. A donation of $10 provides 1 weekly meal for 1 HIV+ patient. And, a donation of $30 provides 1 weekly meal for 1 mother and 3 children.

In recognition of World AIDS day in 2015, the Malian Minister of Health chose our clinic to visit, voiced support for the work of our community and staff for their efforts, and even sat down to share a meal prepared by HIV+ community members. This gesture was not only impactful in the recognition of our HIV+ members hardwork, but also symbolic in that it reinforced slowly changing attitudes surrounding HIV/aids in Mali. To continue fighting the stigma while providing needed nutritional support for our HIV+ patients, please consider donating. No amount is too small, and will contribute to our initiatives in providing psychosocial, community, and nutritional support for our HIV+ community during these especially challenging times.