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Two UN agencies on Tuesday stressed the importance of a good diet for people living with HIV/AIDS.
A new manual published jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests nutrition is one of the simplest means of delaying the progression of HIV.
"The nutritional aspect of HIV/AIDS has been ignored for a long time. The attention was always focused on drugs," FAO's Food and Nutrition Director, Kraisid Tontisirin, said in a statement.
"The message was always - 'take two tablets after meals'. But they forgot about the meals," Tontisirin said.
Almost 95 percent of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing countries where healthcare, resources and drugs are scarce.
"Food isn't a magic bullet. It won't stop people dying of AIDS ... But it can help them live longer, more comfortable and more productive lives," FAO said.
Access the manual online:
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4168E/Y4168E00.HTM
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