Hunger and malnutrition are both major causes of illness and major obstacles to effective treatment of many diseases. Malnutrition weakens immune systems, and greatly increases the likelihood of falling ill with and dying from many common infectious diseases. For HIV or tuberculosis patients, malnutrition undermines treatment, increases vulnerability to opportunistic infections, and accelerates the progression of disease.

At an October 2007 conference, Integrating health, nutrition, and food security: Making the case, hosted by The Institute for Health and Social Justice at Partners In Health, 16 organizations issued a Conference Statement calling for united action to design, implement and advocate for meaningful and rapid change in three areas: ensuring good nutrition for all children under the age of two during the "window of vulnerability" for both growth and cognitive development; ensuring access to adequate and nutritious food for people suffering from HIV or TB; and addressing micronutrient needs through food and micronutrient supplementation, agricultural planning and production, and integration of nutrition efforts into health programs.

In this section, we have provided the philosophical underpinnings, strategies and methods we use to plan and design PIH's food and nutrition programs which address the impact of food and nutrition on people suffering from particular diseases or conditions. Topics covered here include: food assistance to HIV and TB patients; infant feeding in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV; pediatric malnutrition; school lunches; and agricultural initiatives.

Examples of how we implement these programs come mainly from Zanmi Lasante in Haiti and Inshuti Mu Buzima in Rwanda. As with all the pages on this website, this is a work in progress. We look forward to receiving your feedback in the comments area and hope that you will share your own experiences and ideas with us to help reduce the damaging effects of hunger and malnutrition and to support the delivery of high quality health care to the world's poorest communities.