Role of Indigenous Knowledge on  Nutritious food for HIV/AIDS

Edmund J. Kayombo,

Institute of traditional Medicine,

Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar-es-Salaam,

(Tanzania)

Being HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence anymore. There are therapies and nutritional supplements, health living strategies that help one to live a normal life. This paper presents findings from traditional healers on the importance of nutritious food to HIV/AIDS patients from a study done in1997 at two districts in Iringa region, namely Njombe and Ludewa in Tanzania. Ten traditional health practitioners at Njombe and Ludewa district in southwest Tanzania were interviewed using open ended questionnaire at there respective traditional clinics; and made home visits to some of the patients who were under treatment by these traditional health practitioners.

The findings revealed that traditional health practitioners were aware of the importance of nutritious foods to HIV/AIDS patients, and some of them included food component in the formulation of remedies to ensure maximum compliance. Most of these foods were indigenous foods that were used for the patients and women who had just delivered for time immemorial. These foods were meant to strengthen the patients.  

In addition, they recommended nutritious food to HIV/AIDS patient/relatives in addition to the remedies given. The outcome from the concoction and the recommended foods seems to be positive because we saw some of the patients who were dilapidated with the disease engaged in socio economic activities during the home visit. Special programme need to be designed to traditional health practitioners that focus on role of nutrition to HIV/AIDS patients and other chronic diseases. 

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