Food insecurity linked with HIV/AIDS...( (Kingston ON) Determining how the H...),Health

(Kingston, ON) Determining how the HIV/AIDS epidemic increases food insecurity in African cities and what can be done to reduce the chances of this happening is the focus of a new, international Queens-led project.

Both Canadian and Southern African expertise will be used in developing new training programs and in policy advocacy around this crucial issue.

Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the $3-million, five-year project is headed by Global Development Studies professor Jonathan Crush, who is director of the universitys Southern African Research Centre. Queens was one of four successful applicants in the recent CIDA-funded Tier One University Partners in Cooperation and Development competition.

It is heartening to see support directed to such worthwhile causes that will enhance the ability of South African educational organizations to address regional needs, and ultimately improve the quality of life for those in the region, says Vice-Principal (Research) Kerry Rowe. We are extremely proud that researchers at Queen's are securing the financial support required to lead the way on these collaborative projects.

Until now associated mainly with rural areas, food security is rapidly becoming a critical urban development issue in a region currently experiencing unprecedented urbanization and the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world, notes Dr. Crush. The new project aims to establish a sustainable African centre of excellence in urban food security at the University of Cape Town, including a network of organizations committed to enhanced food security for the urban poor and HIV/AIDS-affected households.

The researchers will look at the relationship between food supply, access and distribution amongst the urban poor in 11 African cities. A key research question will be how the HIV/AIDS epidemic increases food insecurity and what policy measures might be adopted to reduce vulnerability
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