Aids killing farmworkers - UN

2004-03-11 21:49

Marietie Louw

Pretoria - More than 16 million people employed in the agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa could die from HIV/Aids in the next 16 years.

These shocking figures were revealed recently by the United Nations' nutrition and agriculture agency.

According to the UN report, about seven million agricultural workers - small-scale farmers and workers - have died from HIV/Aids since 1985.

Various obstacles, such as the refusal of some to admit that they are HIV-positive or have Aids, is making it difficult for the agency to determine how many people are affected.

Armed conflict and unrest in many African countries make it impossible to determine how many people are infected with HIV, said the report.

HIV has hit the food-aid sector the hardest and has led to a loss in expertise and skills in agriculture.

Nutritional values are most important

Women and children are heading households because men, who were the breadwinners, have died from the virus.

"Some women and children have no experience in agriculture and, because the knowledge was never passed on by the man, the agriculture sector is suffering."

According to the report, it is extremely important for communities buckling under HIV/Aids to be given information on the importance of the nutritional value of food.

"People infected with the virus must realise that they can remain productive for longer if they eat the right foods with good nutritional value.

The Aids pandemic in some rural areas has led to famine, that is affecting millions of people.

- Die Burger