HIV/AIDS AND FOOD SECURITY

Introduction

In a way HIV/AIDS has a very clear association to food insecurity. Now, let us look at the double pronged negative impact of HIV/AIDS and the direct and indirect effects of HIV/AIDS on food security. We shall also look at how food insecurity can lead to HIV/AIDS and how HIV/AIDS enhances food insecurity.

Impacts of HIV/AIDS on Food Security

HIV/AIDS is both a cause and a result of food insecurity. Female members of food insecure households in the quest to earn incomes tend to engage in risk behaviour which makes them susceptible to HIV infections. HIV/AIDS infected households lose their capacity to generate incomes and food. On the other hand, members of food insecure households unlike their food secure counterparts do not have sufficient nutritional intake to help them live healthy lives.

Direct impacts of HIV/AIDS on Food Security

The direct impacts of HIV/AIDS on food security include:

1. loss of labour or energy units to generate incomes and food;
2. diversion of investment resources at individual, household, community, national and global levels from productive activities towards HIV/AIDS treatment and management;
3. Increased food requirements at different levels due to the need for intensive nutritional needs of HIV/AIDS patients.