Specially formulated food to bridge nutrition gaps

As has been noted by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in its nutrition guidelines, nutritional care needs to be integrated in the care of all people and children living with HIV, especially the most vulnerable groups which include infants, young children under 5 years as well as pregnant and lactating women.

Therapeutic food manufacturers have proposed Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSF) as a potent way to equip HIV infected people in managing infection and its ill effects.

In a communication to NACO, CMAM Association of India has offered to work closely with the AIDS control agency and launch therapeutic products that could delay the progression of HIV to AIDS and help HIV infected people fight the illness better.

CMAM Association of India is an association of manufacturers of nutrition supplements including Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Foods (RUSF) supporting India's fight against malnutrition by manufacturing in India.

"We see a definite role for ourselves in supporting the AIDS programme of the Government of India. Various studies suggest that low energy intake as a response to increased energy demands due to HIV and related infections is the major driving force behind HIV-related weight loss and wasting among adults," said Akshat Khandelwal, President CMAM Association.

Micronutrient and macronutrient supplementation is a crucial part of HIV related treatment. Gain in weight, body mass and grip strength are important for treatment of HIV patients. The use of RUSF, which is an energy dense nutritional supplement has resulted in reduced mortality rates among HIV patients as demonstrated through clinical trials in African countries, he adds.

"The members of the Association can tailor the RUSF product to suit the requirement of different categories of people, including infants, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women suffering from AIDS. The most significant benefit of RUSF is that it is easy to transport and administer to patients in a non-facility setting as they come in a sachet form which can be consumed directly. They can also be stored without refrigeration for up to two years," added Khandelwal.