MOZAMBIQUE: HIV-positive to benefit from new malnutrition protocol

A new protocol to manage malnutrition among thousands of Mozambican children and adults could also save the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.

"We found that if you treat HIV positive patients for severe malnutrition, they respond extremely well under the new protocol: they have the same weight gain and the same rate of recovery as the malnourished HIV negative person," international nutrition expert Michael Golden told the UN news service, PlusNews.

The new protocol is expected to have a significant impact in the Southern African country, where the number of HIV cases continues to increase and health authorities have forecast rising mortality rates from malnourishment.

An estimated 13.6 percent of people aged 15 to 49 are living with HIV and AIDS in Mozambique.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews, Children,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]