The importance of a proper nutrition diet in the lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS was the highlight of a one-week workshop which started Monday in St. George's. The workshop is organised by the Ministry of Health, the Grenada Food & Nutrition Council, the Caribbean Food & Nutrition Institute, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

In addressing participants at the opening, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Elizabeth Henry-Greenidge said that as Health care workers it is imperative that they understand the importance that nutrition plays in enhancing the quality of lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS.

"I am sure that at the end of this workshop, we will further understand the correlation between healthy eating and the sustenance of the immune system....thus making it more effective for persons to cope with the virus and other illnesses and as a result, maintaining a healthy lifestyle", she told the gathering.

She noted that there are many factors which contribute to improving or maintaining a good quality of life for persons living with HIV These, she said include regular exercise, avoiding stressful situations, proper use of prescribed medication and developing healthy nutritional habits.

Henry-Greenidge warned health care workers to be cognisant of the fact that as the disease changes, so too, they must adjust and change and keep abreast of new information and to increase their knowledge base. Facilitators for the workshop are June Holdip, a Dietitian/Nutritionist and Laura Richards, Medical Dietitian with the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute.

The first phase of the programme was held in June 2004, when more than 30 persons living with HIV/AIDS and their care-givers received nutrition related information and training on how to live with and take care of someone living with HIV/AIDS. The workshop focussed on maintaining a balanced diet under the circumstances and gave helpful tips on how to deal with the nutrition-related side effects of drug therapy.

The St. George's workshop is the second phase of the CIDA/CFNI project aimed at educating the population of the region on the importance of nutrition in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The workshop is specially designed for persons in the medical/health profession who have to provide information and care for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

It seeks to address issues such as Nutritional Implications of HIV/AIDS, Dietary Techniques of Anthropometric Assessment, Dietary Strategies for Common Nutrition-related problems and Nutrition Therapy for infants and children with HIV/AIDS.