SWANNEPA Media Forum on Infant Feeding and HIV and AIDS

THANDI KUNENE

Thandi Kunene, Dietician from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was a guest expert. She raised critical issues relating to infant feeding for infected children and challenges the medical profession to be conscious of the shift in paradigm.
She urged the media to be aware of the international trends in infant feeding. She argues that it is wrong not to breast feed children below the age of six because of their HIV status.“Cow milk is not recommended for children below the age of 6 months.”


Breast milk contributes 50% of the nutrient intake of children 6 months in developing countries üReplacing breast milk nutrients and energy will be a challengeüFrom 6 months of age, infants can be given unmodified animal milk or commercial formula to replace breast milkThe story to now (con’d):Formula feeding from birth does not appear to convey added benefits in settings where there are risks of malnutrition, morbidity & mortality from unsafe preparation
Greater support for exclusive breastfeeding is warranted (particularly to reduce mixed feeding)



Many unanswered questions regarding the timing, safety, & impact of early breastfeeding cessation
Low-cost, nutritious, bacteria-resistant replacement foods are needed to optimize growth, health, and survival – true for all, not just HIV-exposed

SWANNEPA MEDIA FORUM - Adherence and Challenges

SWANNEPHA'S Phindile Dlamini


The Swaziland Network for People Who Live With HIV And AIDS has periodical meetings with media personnel. The SWANNEPA media forum is basically, the brain storming session where people who are living with the virus meet with journalists and discuss issues affecting the patients and to raise concerns about their stories are reported by the local media.
The recent media forum we discussed the challenges facing adherence to HIV therapy.

They expressed dissatisfaction on crackdown on the companies, traditional doctors, traditional doctors and relogious personnel that claim to cure HIV and AIDS then turn around encourage patients to stop ARV's . They felt they need a strict policy to deal with the perpetrators.

The problems caused by different companies manufacturing the same ARV's was discussed. Legal implications and other family challenges that might occur in the event the doctor with a close relative might find themselves into after having started a patient in ARV's when that patient is in comer.
Children's adherence remains a challenge. The issue of children's rights comes to the fore since, since parental decision is sought before the child can start medication.

What happens in the event the parents refuse the child's treatment because of religious grounds and other religious myths?

The participants were ignorant above the move to purchase children's tablets to replace the syrup which are an an inconvenience to children because because of taste