HIV and nutrition

Adequate, nutritious food is essential for people living with HIV and for the success of life-saving antiretroviral therapy. The World Food Programme’s (WFP) food- and nutrition-based programming is therefore critical to the global HIV response. People living with HIV are often the most food insecure and nutritionally vulnerable. Food insecurity and malnutrition can fuel the transmission of HIV, weaken immune response and reduce responsiveness to treatment – especially in emergency and fragile contexts. 

Why does WFP work with people living with HIV?

WFP’s mandate to combat hunger and malnutrition provides a vital platform to support people living with HIV. Hunger, malnutrition and HIV are interwoven in multiple ways. People living with HIV have higher caloric and nutritional needs, yet the disease often reduces appetite and the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Without sufficient food, antiretroviral treatment (ART) is harder to tolerate and less effective, leading to poor adherence and worse health outcomes.  

At the same time, HIV can destroy livelihoods through loss of income and high medical costs, making households more vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition. When families face food insecurity, they may adopt harmful coping strategies that increase their exposure to HIV.  

WFP has a unique responsibility to ensure that people living with HIV can access the nutritious diets they need to adhere to treatment, and to lead full and productive lives. Access to adequate, nutritious food is particularly crucial for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers living with HIV, as transmission of HIV to their babies can increase by up to 45 percent if they are not undergoing ART. 

Where does WFP work with people living with HIV?

WFP is often called on by governments, UN partners and civil society to provide targeted food and nutrition support for people living with HIV and their families. This is often in fragile contexts, where conflict, economic instability and climate shocks have severely disrupted health services, forced displacement and hindered access to food and medical treatment.