National nutrition and HIV/AIDS implementation reference manual

Abstract

The Government of Ethiopia (GOE) has given priority to nutrition in the context of HIV. For some time, infant feeding counseling and support has been a key component of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs in the country. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) developed the National Guideline for HIV/AIDS and Nutrition (hereafter referred to as “the Guideline”) in 20061 and a Technical Working Group on Nutrition and HIV/AIDS was recently established within the Palliative Care Task Force. The Government has also developed and launched the National Nutrition Strategy and National Nutrition Program in which nutrition and HIV/AIDS is included as a component. The coordination system, or system of referral links among the various clinical care, food support, and other livelihood support programs for people infected with or affected by HIV is to be worked out as per National Nutrition Program (NNP). While the government is supportive of nutrition services for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV), nutrition support has been delivered by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs), though not in a systematic and uniform manner.