Nutrition: International Health

Nutrition | Clinical Care | Community Health | Education and Training | Research

A key aspect of the services of the Albion Street Centre is the promotion of nutrition in HIV care and treatment services in both a domestic and international context. HIV management is not just the use of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) agents. Food, nutrition and ART are all essential for successful management of HIV, particularly in developing countries where food insecurity is common.

There are several international activities in nutrition currently being conducted by the Albion Street Centre. These activities have been possible through collaborations between the Nutrition Development Division and the International Health Services of the Centre.

Recent International Activities

Thai-Australian Collaboration in HIV Nutrition (TACHIN) project (ongoing)

TACHIN is a three year partnership between the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, the Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University and the Albion Street Centre. The project focus is skills and capacity building for the professional development of Thai nutritionists in the care and treatment of HIV through nutrition.

Papua New Guinea-Australia Nutrition Initiative (ongoing)

Albion Street Centre is currently investigating possible partnerships and projects to enhance the nutritional status and food security of people living with HIV in Papua New Guinea. Initial consultation workshops have been held in Port Moresby.

Technical nutrition input in other projects:

• Indonesia HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project (IHPCP) (2005 -2007)
• Xinjiang HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Project (2003 to 2005)
• Bmarasnaradura Hospital HIV Ambulatory Care Project Thailand (1997 to 2002)

Nutrition Division activities focused on staff capacity building in nutrition and HIV. This included implementation of training programs for health care workers, peer educators, development of HIV nutrition related information, education and communication material (leaflets, flip charts and posters), promotion of multidisciplinary care and provision of technical support and mentoring to nutrition counterparts to increase capacity of nutritional care for clients.

Other

The Division has also been involved in a number of international health activities in terms of Information Education and Communication (IEC) Development. These include the contribution of nutrition information and resources into:

• WHO and World Food Program (WFP) publications
• President's emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) and Family Health International (FHI)
• World Health Organisation South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO)
• World Health Organisation Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO)

Albion Street Centre
150 - 154 Albion Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 Australia
Telephone: +61 2 9332 9600 Fax: +61 2 9331 3490