HIV/AIDS is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa,
where it combines with other common conditions such as
malnutrition and opportunistic infections to wreak devastation
among families, communities, and nations. Efforts to
control it must go beyond rhetoric and calls for prevention
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as the sole strategy: full-scale national and international
responses are imperative.
Nutritional and micronutrient deficiencies are common
in HIV-infected persons and play a major and synergistic
role in disease progression and in the retardation of growth
and development of children. All persons with HIV infection
should undergo nutritional assessment at the time of
their first contact with health care professionals. Appropriate
interventions and ongoing monitoring should follow
initial assessment.
As ARV drugs are introduced in African countries, careful
planning and training of health professionals in their use
will be among key requirements to maximize the benefits
and minimize the risks of these drugs in a previously ARVnaive
population.