WFP deputy director of operations Jammie Wickens told journalists here that having the food has a long but overlooked remedy in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Wickens said food helps interrupt the downward spiral of malnutrition, fatigue and illness.

He explained that without proper nutrition, the disease wears down the body faster and leaves the infected person vulnerable to other opportunistic aliments.

Wickens said that to remain productive, HIV-positive individuals need an increased food intake.

He called on the international community to address the fundamental need for food for the people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Wickens disclosed that in this respect, WFP will Thursday hold around-table discussion with the Food and Agriculture Organizationand the World Health Organization to discuss the challenge of the disease in relation to food security and nutrition.

He said some of the HIV/AIDS patients, his agency is seeking tohelp, are now undergoing a further treat to their lives in the face of the impending food shortage in Southern Africa.

Meanwhile, WFP country representative Richard Ragan said food is a primary concern to people living with HIV/AIDS.

He said that when the family's breadwinner becomes ill, families are often forced to sell off productive assets, spend their savings on food and medicine and withdraw their children from school to work and care for the sick adults.

Ragan observed food consumption has been shown to drop by as much as 40 percent in households affected by HIV/AIDS.

He said that in recognition of the importance of food, good nutrition and the explosion of HIV/AIDS in developing countries, WFP would now include HIV/AIDS-specific activities in its key operations.

WFP is United Nations front line agency in the fight against global hunger.

( July 11, 2002)